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Germany coach criticizes Ozil

By Daily Sports on August 30, 2018

Mesut Ozil has been condemned by Germany manager Joachim Low for refusing to take his calls since retiring from international football and accusing the country's FA of racism.

The Arsenal playmaker quit after Germany failed to get out of their World Cup group amid unrest over Ozil and Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan - both of Turkish descent - posing for pictures with Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The German FA criticised the pair and Ozil responded with his racism claims.

Low said: 'Mesut's adviser called me to inform me Mesut would issue the statement. The player himself did not call me, which normally players have done in the past.

'Mesut has still not called me and for the last two weeks I have unsuccessfully tried to reach him. He has chosen this path. I have to accept that.'

Low has dismissed Ozil's accusations of racism at the country's FA.

He said: 'Mesut made allegations of racism but I can clearly say that in the DFB (German FA) there has never been racist comments.

'Players with an immigrant background have always enjoyed playing for us and nothing has changed.

After the German FA's criticism of Ozil for meeting Erdogan, who has been accused of human rights abuses, politicians in Germany questioned Ozil's loyalty to the national team.

In a controversial statement announcing his international retirement, the Arsenal star cited the 'racism and disrespect' he believes he faced due to his Turkish roots.

Making reference to DFB president Reinhard Grindel, Ozil said: 'In the eyes of Grindel and his supporters, I am German when we win but an immigrant when we lose. I will no longer stand for being a scapegoat.' (Daily Mall )

•Photo shows Low and Ozil.

Source Daily Sports

Posted August 30, 2018