“I am German when we win, but I am an immigrant when we lose,” wrote Özil in a Twitter statement about his resignation from the German national team.
The treatment of German player Mesut Özil was disgraceful.
After Germany’s early exit from the World Cup, fans and German politicians alike scapegoated Özil, a third-generation Turkish-German, for the team’s loss. Officials from the German Football Association (DFB) didn’t just fail to defend Özil -- they actively supported his detractors, leading Özil to resign from the German team.
We’re calling on the main sponsors -- Adidas, McDonald’s, Mercedes-Benz & Co -- to withdraw their support to the German football association -- until it faces its racism problem.
A photo Özil took with Turkish president Erdogan in May was used as an excuse to pile on racist and Islamophobic insults.
This isn’t just about football. Özil is one of millions of Germans who have lived in this country their whole lives, but who suddenly find themselves treated as “the other”. The stakes are too high to let the DFB continue down this path of nationalism and racism.
Tell Adidas, McDonald's, Mercedes you won’t condone its support of the DFB as long as its racism goes unchallenged.
More information
Mesut Özil walks away from Germany team citing ‘racism and disrespect’
The Guardian. 23 July 2018.
The Guardian. 23 July 2018.