Ozil withdraws from Germany squad on "racist" grounds

BERLIN, July 22 (KUNA) -- Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil has withdrawn from international football on the backdrop of what he described as "discrimination" and "racist" allegations made against him by the German FA and media after a photograph taken with Turkey's president.
In a long-worded statement posted on his twitter page on Sunday, the German footballer of Turkish descent accused his country's media of having portrayed "something different" and "double standards." The Arsenal player's picture with Erdogan was taken during the latter's official visit to London, and wasn't about politics or elections" or an "endorsement of any policies," he argued.
"It was about me respecting the highest office of my family's country," he said in response.
Ozil, who was part of the World Cup defending champions' squad that crashed out in the first round, added that the football association and the media "criticised my Turkish ancestry and respect for my upbringing," using him as a "scapegoat" for the woeful performance in Russia.
He singled out German FA President Reinhard Grindel for this criticism, whom he accused of advancing an agenda against him due to "incompetence and inability to do his job properly." (end) anj.sd