National team game Spain vs Germany which took place on Monday (28/11) in the morning WIB was colored by the sympathetic actions of a number of Qatari supporters. At Al-Bayt Stadium, the Qatari supporters – referring to the robes they wore – carried posters of the former Der Panzer star, Mesut Ozil.
The fans raised the poster while covering their mouths.
There was some speculation that this action was a satire back against the German national team which protested against FIFA and Qatar’s decision to ban campaigns to support LGBT in the 2022 World Cup. At that time the German national team posed while covering their mouths on the first matchday against Japan.
The satire back from the Al-Bayt tribune then referred to the act of racism committed by Germany against its former player.
Ozil, a Muslim player from Germany, admitted that he experienced acts of intimidation and racism because he voiced his support for the Muslim movement, starting from solidarity actions for the Uighurs, to his close relationship with Turkish President Reccep Tayyip Erdogan.
As is known, Ozil withdrew from the national team after being the target of racial abuse and was made a scapegoat when Germany was eliminated from the 2018 World Cup.
Ozil is a German national team player with a blood line from Turkish parents. The former Real Madrid player once revealed that everything related to the German national team, even the fans and the media, was racist towards people who had blood relations with Turkey.
“I am a German when we win, but I am an immigrant when Germany loses,” Ozil said at the time, quoted ESPN.
Ozil decided to end his national team career at the age of 29 years. He recorded 92 caps, 23 goals and 40 assists for his country.
He admitted that he had fallen for the attitude of the German national team after uploading his photo with Erdogan.
Ozil at that time emphasized that he had done absolutely nothing wrong for uploading a photo with Erdogan. Nevertheless, because of the racism that was constantly whacking him, Ozil emphasized that retiring from the National Team was the right choice.
“I will no longer play for Germany at international level as I get racist feelings and disrespect,” Ozil said in mid-2018.
“I used to wear the Germany jersey with pride and joy, but now I don’t.”
The Spain vs Germany match ended in a 1-1 draw. Spain scored a goal through Alvaro Morata in the 62nd minute. Meanwhile, Germany avenged the deficit through Nicklas Fullkurg’s goal in the 83rd minute.
Spain remains at the top of Group E with 4 points. Germany, who is in fourth place with 1 point, still has a chance to qualify for the round of 16.
[Gambas:Video CNN]
(ain/rhr)
