Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said any issue with Mesut Ozil is not racism-related, but claimed comments from the Arsenal star’s agent are untrue and ‘getting on his nerves’.
There has been significant fallout since Ozil announced his retirement from international football earlier this month after he released a three-part statement, addressing criticism he received following a meeting with Turkey president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Ozil has Turkish roots and has subsequently accused sponsors, German media and German Football Federation (DFB) president Reinhard Grindel for scapegoating him after the country’s shock group-stage exit at the 2018 World Cup.
The 29-year-old playmaker, who earned 92 caps with Germany, alleged the treatment of him was comparable to racism as he believes his Turkish roots had been unfairly disrespected.
“He has not been criticised because he is of Turkish descent,” Rummenigge claimed in an interview with SPORT BILD.
“This is a fable told by his advisors. That’s getting on my nerves anyway.
Sokut had previously been in a war of words with another member of Bayern Munich’s hierarchy when he claimed president Uli Hoeness made “foolish” comments in the wake of Ozil’s retirement announcement.
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 is home to about three million people of Turkish descent – a point regularly raised in political debate in the country, where immigration and the rise of far-right parties are key issues for many.
And Ozil questions in his statement why other dual-heritage team-mates have not been subjected to the same treatment.
“Is it because it is Turkey? Is it because I’m a Muslim? I think here lays an important issue,” he said.
Germany’s Social Democrat Justice Minister Katarina Barley said: “It’s alarming if a great German football player like Mesut Ozil no longer feels wanted in his country.”