Giovane Elber, the former Bayern Munich striker, insists he never experienced racism in Germany, following the retirement of Mesut Ozil from international duty.
Ozil claimed, in his retirement statement, that he was stepping down due to “racism and disrespect” following Germany’s group stage elimination at the 2018 World Cup.
The Arsenal attacker said that the way he was treated by the German football association made him “no longer want to wear the German national team shirt.”
Accusing the DFB president of racism, he also said that “I am German when we win, but I am an immigrant when we lose.”
Elber, however, insists that he was never subjected to such treatment when he was playing in Germany, having represented Bayern for six seasons.
Asked if he was ever on the receiving end of racism in the Bundesliga, he told Goal: “No, in Germany, thankfully, I never had any issues with racism.
“Not me, my family, my kids. It always went really well, and everyone always respected me the same way, no matter who it was, always with respect. With Ozil, I think it was a thing done without thinking much.”
Elber says he was referring to the photograph Ozil took with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which sparked a firestorm of controversy in Germany.
Indeed, there were even calls for the Arsenal midfielder to be left out of the national team squad altogether, and Elber believes that sport and politics should always be kept apart.
“Yes, the photo he took because it started a problem that wasn’t necessary,” he added, clarifying his previous comment.
“On the other hand, it’s the president of the country where he has roots. You have to understand that.
“In Brazil we always say that football can’t mix with politics. Politics is another thing, football is on its own. It moves people.
“When you look at the World Cup games and a team loses, the fans are crying as though they’ve lost someone close to them. That’s football. And when you mix football and politics, it doesn’t go well for anyone.”
Hundreds of German fans gathered in support for Mesut Ozil after he quit international football, citing “racism and disrespect” over his Turkish roots.
Supporters gathered in Berlin on Sunday wearing ‘I am Ozil’ T-shirts, waving Turkish and German flags in solidarity with the Arsenal midfielder.
He said last week he received hate mail and threats, and was blamed for Germany’s disappointing World Cup.
Germany’s football association “rejected” allegations of racism.
However, it said it could have done more to protect him from abuse.
In announcing his international retirement, he said: “I am German when we win, but I am an immigrant when we lose.”
Former Germany striker Fredi Bobic, who is now the Eintracht Frankfurt sporting director, criticised the manner of Ozil’s international retirement.
“I think that’s a bit cowardly,” he told German newspaper Bild am Sonntag.
“Ozil’s criticism of social media, especially in the direction of the German Football Association (DFB), is unbearable.
“This blanket charge of racism simply does not correspond to reality. He could have given an interview somewhere, live on TV.
“For us footballers, the rule is ‘be a man and stand up.'”
Ozil, a third-generation Turkish-German, was born in Gelsenkirchen and was a key member of his country’s 2014 World Cup-winning side.
He thanked fans for their “love” during the Gunners’ pre-season tour, and has received backing from his team-mates and new manager Unai Emery.Some say these people running around throwing playground names at him are just in it for the attention themselves.
What do any of these people actually know about Ozil? Probably no more than you or I. We know his character, we know his heart. We know he can get frustrated and down. But to speculate beyond that. To call him a coward, to call him weak or spineless or anything like that – it’s all pure speculation.