BERLIN (AFP) - Angela Merkel's chief of staff on Monday (March 18) joined the growing chorus of criticism of Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil for reportedly inviting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to his wedding this summer as his witness.
The 30-year-old Ozil, who has Turkish family roots, sparked controversy last May when he was photographed with Mr Erdogan, raising questions about the footballer's loyalty to Germany on the eve of their disastrous World Cup campaign.
After 92 appearances for Germany, including a key role in the 2014 World Cup victory, Ozil suddenly quit the national squad last July, accusing German football officials of racism.
On Sunday, Germany's top-selling tabloid Bild reported that Ozil, 30, and his fiancee Amine Gulse, 25, a former Miss Turkey and model, personally presented Mr Erdogan in Istanbul with an invitation to their wedding this summer, asking the Turkish leader to appear as the footballer's witness.
The invitation immediately drew sharp criticism in Germany, whose government has been sharply at odds with Ankara over a range of human rights questions in recent years.
Helge Braun, a politician and chief of staff to German Chancellor Merkel, told Bild it "makes one sad" that Ozil would make a such a move despite having already been sharply criticised by the German public over his first meeting with Mr Erdogan.
"The fact that this has continued will have disappointed a lot of football fans - me too!" said Braun.
Â
Â
The politician accepted Ozil's was "a private decision" which one must respect, but appealed to the footballer as a role model, especially for young Turks in Germany.
"Footballers are symbolic figures in our society, with whom people identify with much more than ministers," added Braun. "And so the question is raised: How much does someone wearing the German national jersey stand for Germany?"
Braun's comments come after German politician Cem Ozdemir, whose parents are Turkish, said on Sunday that he found it "inappropriate" for Ozil to invite the Turkish leader.
Ozil - one of the world's most popular footballers on social media with 31 million followers on his official Facebook account, 19.1 million on his Instagram account and 23.9 million on Twitter - has an obligation as a role model, added Ozdemir.
Another lawmaker, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, was equally unimpressed by his invitation to Mr Erdogan.
"The wedding is the private matter of Mesut Ozil, but he is a world star, who people look up to, so of course it's a pity from a political point of view," Lambsdorff told newspaper Welt.
Ozil has dated Gulse since 2017 and the couple announced their engagement in June 2018.
The Arsenal midfielder, a third-generation German, whipped up a political storm when he was pictured alongside Mr Erdogan last May.
Criticism intensified after the red-faced defending champions crashed out of the first round of the World Cup in Russia.
In the wake of the World Cup fiasco, Ozil announced his resignation from the national squad, saying: "I am German when we win, an immigrant when we lose."
Football: Liverpool's miracle comeback trumps Spurs', say fans in Singapore - The Straits Times; SPH Chinese Media Group presents crosstalk production It Could Have Been____! Malaysia criticised for failures on rights reforms; Singapore 'playing for time' in water dispute with Malaysia: Daim Zainuddin - AsiaOne
WTA Finals: Karolina Pliskova beats Venus Williams in
Brighton 0-1 Southampton: Ralph Hassenhuttl praises Saints players after win. The striker opened his body to try and curl the ball past Ryan but Lewis Dunk was on hand to block his effort.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg strikes to give Southampton breathing
Eden Hazard can leave Chelsea if he wants, says Maurizio
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has been charged with misconduct for his behaviour during Monday's 2-2 Premier League draw with Burnley, the English Football Association said. The Chelsea coach was
Chelsea's Sarri charged with misconduct over Burnley
Friends, family and supporters gathered in Progreso for the day-long wake at his boyhood club, San Martin de Progreso. More than 3,000 mourners came to pay their respects to the 28-year-old, whose
Latest EMILIANO SALA | The Straits Times
Norwich promoted to Premier League after three-year absence getty, Nathan Stirk Norwich City secured promotion to the English Premier League after a three-year absence with a 2-1 win at home to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
Norwich City promoted to Premier League after three-year absence
Football: Sevilla put pressure on Spanish La Liga leaders
SINGAPORE: Singapore's national footballer Ikhsan Fandi has signed a two-year contract with Norwegian second tier side Raufoss IL, the club announced on its website on Sunday (Jan 13). The 19-year-old striker, who is the second son of local legend Fandi Ahmad, had been on trial with Raufoss for a week, the club said.
Ikhsan Fandi inks deal with Norwegian side | Goal.com
Maurizio Sarri has announced that he cannot do anything if Eden Hazard wants to leave Chelsea and sign for Real Madrid during the summer transfer window.
Maurizio Sarri says Eden Hazard is free to leave Chelsea if
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Manchester United beat Cardiff City 5-1 in his first game in charge. What a game from Man United, what a performance. SOLSKJAER PLAYING THE UNITED WAY! | CARDIFF 1-5 MAN
Jesse Lingard: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has brought back 'the
Soccer: Bayern have not yet tabled bid for Man City's Sane
0 comments:
Post a Comment