Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza backs footballer Mesut Ozil
Indian ace and mother to be Sania Mirza on Monday backed footballer Mesut Ozil, who announced his retirement from international football after being objected to heavy racism by the German government, media and fans.
The Arsenal midfielder said that he was quitting the German national football team, citing 'racism' and 'lack of respect' as the main reason to announce his departure. He attacked the German football federation (DFB), its president, fans and the media, criticizing what he saw as racism and double standards in the treatment of people with Turkish roots.
Citing anti-Turkish comments from far-right politicians and fans, Ozil said he would "no longer be playing for Germany at international level whilst I have this feeling of racism and disrespect."
Sania supported Ozil by taking to Twitter as her post read,'This is the saddest thing to read as as an athlete, and more importantly, as a human being .. you are right bout one thing @MesutOzil1088 racism should not and will not be accepted under any circumstance.. sad if all this is true'.
There was a photo of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Ozil and Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan meeting in London caused an uproar in Germany two months ago.
"The picture we took had no political intentions," said Ozil, adding that it "was about me respecting the highest office of my family's country."
On Twitter, Ozil said: "The treatment I have received from the DFB and many others makes me no longer want to wear the German national team shirt".
(With AP Inputs)
