Mesut Ozil has been branded a ‘coward’ in the wake of his controversial retirement from international football. In an incredible and lengthy statement following the World Cup, Ozil accused the German Football Association of treating him ‘disrespect and racism’. Those claims were quickly rejected by Germany’s FA and Ozil has received criticism from some, with Bayern Munich chief Uli Hoeness celebrating his retirement.
Ozil has received backing from new Arsenal manager Unai Emery and a number of his team-mates at the Emirates, but he remains a decisive figure in Germany. Fredi Bobic, the former Germany international and current sporting director of Eintracht Frankfurt, told Bild: ‘I think that’s a bit cowardly. ‘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”.’ Bobic, who made 37 caps for Germany and enjoyed spells at Borussia Dortmund and Stuttgart as a player, also criticised Ozil for his picture alongside Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. ‘I would allow that to a player who is 18 or 19 years old, but a player who has been in the business for so long, 29 years old and world champion, needs to know what this looks like,’ he added.