Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil has quit international football, citing the “racism and disrespect” he has faced in Germany over his Turkish roots.
The 29-year-old was criticised after being photographed with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan at a London event in May.
He says he received hate mail and threats and was being blamed for Germany’s disappointing World Cup.
“I am German when we win, but I am an immigrant when we lose,” Ozil said.
German football chiefs have yet to respond to Ozil’s claims.
However Chancellor Angela Merkel “respects” his decision as he has done much for the national side, her spokesperson said on Monday.
The third-generation Turkish-German was born in Gelsenkirchen and was a key member of his country’s 2014 World Cup-winning side.
He has 92 caps and has been voted the national team’s player of the year five times since 2011 by fans.
However, the team failed to get beyond the group stages of the recent World Cup in Russia, despite being one of the favourites.
Ozil said his recent treatment made him “no longer want to wear the German national team shirt”.
In a lengthy statement posted on social media, he said he did not feel accepted in German society despite paying taxes, donating to good causes there, and being a World Cup winner.
Germany’s football association, the DFB, was among those to criticise Ozil after he had his photograph taken with Erdogan.
“It is with a heavy heart and after much consideration that because of recent events, I will no longer be playing for Germany at international level while I have this feeling of racism and disrespect,” the player said.
“I used to wear the German shirt with such pride and excitement, but now I don’t. I feel unwanted and think that what I have achieved since my international debut in 2009 has been forgotten.”
Ozil met Erdogan in May along with fellow Germany international Ilkay Gundogan, the Manchester City player who is also of Turkish descent. Ozil says he and Gundogan talked about football with the president.
Afterwards, photographs were released by Turkey’s governing AK Party in the build-up to elections in the country, which Erdogan won outright.
Many German politicians questioned Ozil and Gundogan’s loyalty to German democratic values. Germany has previously criticised the Turkish leader’s crackdown on political dissent following a failed coup.
Gundogan later issued a statement in which he said he “honours German values 100%” and never intended the picture to be seen as a show of political support.
The players did meet the German FA president to explain the image, although Ozil had not issued a public statement on the matter until Sunday.
He pointed out that Erdogan also met the Queen and Prime Minister Theresa May while in England and said he would have been “disrespecting his ancestors’ roots” had he not posed for photographs with the Turkish president.
“It wasn’t about politics or elections, it was about me respecting the highest office of my family’s country,” he added.
Here are some of the reactions
https://twitter.com/Guardiolista07/status/1021259843754131456
We should not stand with Ozil, we should thank him for standing for all of us! Europeans are the biggest racists, they just know how to hide it. #StandWithOzil pic.twitter.com/IJphzGlabd
— Fatlum Rexhepi (@FatlumX) July 22, 2018
The way Ozil was singled out by the German FA over a friendly non-political photo is disgusting. There is such an evident double standard in the way ozil was treated, compared with the reaction when Matthaus met putin. Racism has no place anywhere in the world. #StandWithOzil pic.twitter.com/M1iN8gycsK
— esplayn (@AFCfreddiem) July 22, 2018
You may not be appreciated in Germany but here in England and at Arsenal you are one of our own. Hold your head high and don't look back. We love you Mesut ❤ #Respect #StandWithOzil
— Rach AFC.🐻 🔴⚪ (@rachelh157) July 22, 2018
A man who has accomplished so much with the national team has been forced to retire because he says he was getting racially attacked. No way for a proud footballing nation to behave.#StandWithOzil pic.twitter.com/za75GvBWMp
— Con (@ConnCFC) July 22, 2018
One of the worst days in football. I just can’t think of what @MesutOzil1088 would have gone through. Racism in football should not be tolerated. No matter what you are my idol and I’m even more prouder, after today, to say that. #StandWithOzil #SayNoToRacism #M1Ö #MesutOzil pic.twitter.com/V4uJdu7S7g
— kartik (@ozilistm10) July 22, 2018
#StandWithOzil Ozil in international competition..
– More than 65 goals + assists in 92 caps
– 5 time German Player of the Year
– 2010 World cup Semi finalist
– 2012 Euros Semi finalist
– 2014 World cup Winner
– 2016 Euros Semi finalist— Kingsley Wilson (@KwadjoWilson) July 22, 2018
Mesut Ozil made all of these racist bigots fall today. My hero. #StandWithOzil pic.twitter.com/Z5YYLWRNeS
— Samie (@samie_mok) July 22, 2018