BERLIN (AFP) - Angela Merkel's chief of staff on Monday (March 18) joined the growing chorus of criticism of Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil for reportedly inviting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to his wedding this summer as his witness.
The 30-year-old Ozil, who has Turkish family roots, sparked controversy last May when he was photographed with Mr Erdogan, raising questions about the footballer's loyalty to Germany on the eve of their disastrous World Cup campaign.
After 92 appearances for Germany, including a key role in the 2014 World Cup victory, Ozil suddenly quit the national squad last July, accusing German football officials of racism.
On Sunday, Germany's top-selling tabloid Bild reported that Ozil, 30, and his fiancee Amine Gulse, 25, a former Miss Turkey and model, personally presented Mr Erdogan in Istanbul with an invitation to their wedding this summer, asking the Turkish leader to appear as the footballer's witness.
The invitation immediately drew sharp criticism in Germany, whose government has been sharply at odds with Ankara over a range of human rights questions in recent years.
Helge Braun, a politician and chief of staff to German Chancellor Merkel, told Bild it "makes one sad" that Ozil would make a such a move despite having already been sharply criticised by the German public over his first meeting with Mr Erdogan.
"The fact that this has continued will have disappointed a lot of football fans - me too!" said Braun.
Â
Â
The politician accepted Ozil's was "a private decision" which one must respect, but appealed to the footballer as a role model, especially for young Turks in Germany.
"Footballers are symbolic figures in our society, with whom people identify with much more than ministers," added Braun. "And so the question is raised: How much does someone wearing the German national jersey stand for Germany?"
Braun's comments come after German politician Cem Ozdemir, whose parents are Turkish, said on Sunday that he found it "inappropriate" for Ozil to invite the Turkish leader.
Ozil - one of the world's most popular footballers on social media with 31 million followers on his official Facebook account, 19.1 million on his Instagram account and 23.9 million on Twitter - has an obligation as a role model, added Ozdemir.
Another lawmaker, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, was equally unimpressed by his invitation to Mr Erdogan.
"The wedding is the private matter of Mesut Ozil, but he is a world star, who people look up to, so of course it's a pity from a political point of view," Lambsdorff told newspaper Welt.
Ozil has dated Gulse since 2017 and the couple announced their engagement in June 2018.
The Arsenal midfielder, a third-generation German, whipped up a political storm when he was pictured alongside Mr Erdogan last May.
Criticism intensified after the red-faced defending champions crashed out of the first round of the World Cup in Russia.
In the wake of the World Cup fiasco, Ozil announced his resignation from the national squad, saying: "I am German when we win, an immigrant when we lose."
"At times we played really good football but it can, and it must be, a lot better on Sunday," said Van Dijk. "There were times where we did not put enough pressure on them and were sloppy and lost the ball. "Against Germany we can expect a completely different game and we all realise that. We know what we are capable of."
Chelsea collapsed to a 4-0 thrashing at Bournemouth as the Premier League's supposed lesser lights continued to cause mischief at the top end of the table. Liverpool, seeking a first title since 1990, have still increased the gap over City from four points to five but it was night of jitters at a freezing Anfield.
Leaders Liverpool stumble, Chelsea collapse - omanobserver.om
An open letter to Tatsuma Yoshida, the Singapore national football team's new coach. 2019, with the headline 'Yoshida-san, restore the Lions' semangat, boleh?'. Print Edition | Subscribe.
Football: Yoshida-san, restore the Lions' semangat, boleh?
virginiabus.info/sports/football-yoshida-san-restore-the-lions-semangat-boleh/
There was a time when our Lions roared on the regional stage. But after three straight group-stage eliminations from the AFF Suzuki Cup, we have been reduced to whimpering pussycats of late. We are looking to you to restore the semangat - which is similar to the Japanese concepts of seishin and tamashii - and revive the energy and
Flipboard: Lions hungry for post-raya victory
Everton players have "100 per cent belief" Marco Silva will get it right. It's five losses in six now for Everton boss Silva after defeat to previous employers Watford in front of their taunting fans
Watford - malaysia.shafaqna.com
malaysia.shafaqna.com/EN/MY/hashtag/Watford
Watford | Malaysia News is a newsreader (RSS reader) providing a summary of headlines and latest news stories disseminated in the reliable news sources from Malaysia News. Malaysia News reads latest regional, national and local headlines in English and Melayu.
Watford winger Richarlison to have medical at Everton on
Atletico's heaviest defeat of the season means they miss the chance to mathematically guarantee finishing second in La Liga ahead of neighbours Real Madrid. Atletico slump to biggest defeat of
Atletico Madrid slump to biggest defeat of season against
Parris and White strike to give England victory over Scotland. Sports; Parris and White strike to give England victory over Scotland. June 10, 2019. 0. 5. Share on
Any other day, a concert by a multiple Grammy Award-winning artiste like Bruno Mars would have been headline news.. But May 9, 2018 wasn't any other day. It was a historic day for Malaysia, one that many of Mars' fans were part of, rushing to the concert after voting at their various constituencies, and proudly displaying their inked fingers like a badge of honour.
May 11, 2019 - YouTube
Football News: Barcelona have one hand firmly on the La Liga title after winning 2-0 at Alaves on Tuesday, leaving them 12 points clear at the top of the table with
Barcelona on verge of Liga title after beating Alaves - Reuters
Tomorrow is not to rest players, but to take best decision after the big victory over Manchester City. The massive risk is how we are going to approach the game tomorrow. We have a lot of player who played 90 minutes who are not in a condition to play tomorrow.
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino fears Harry Kane could miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury sustained against Manchester City. The striker had to be helped down the tunnel by Spurs
Manchester United's top-four hopes are over after Isaac Mbenza punished a shambolic display to earn relegated Huddersfield a memorable 1-1 draw in their final Premier League home match
Huddersfield vs Manchester United: Top-four spot slips out of
The Socceroos continue their AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019™ campaign with a pivotal clash against Palestine on Friday night (AEDT) in Dubai. After the opening game loss against Jordan, Graham Arnold's men will be desperate to bounce back with an improved showing against Palestinians. With one game now
Lions hungry for victory in Afcon final That belongs to the past because on Sunday the Indomitable Lions will contest the final against seven-time champions Egypt without eight players who
O'Driscoll hungry for first Lions series win | Fox News
Both matches will be played on the weekend of 6-7 April. The FA Cup semi-final draw. Manchester City v Brighton. Watford v Wolves. Watch all of the latest FA Cup highlights and reaction here
Manchester City to face Brighton in FA Cup semi-final while
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen