Mesut Özil case: the DFB "firmly rejects" accusations of racism

"Mesut Özil’s decision to step down from the Germany national team has triggered a debate about racism in general and about football's capabilities for integration in particular," said Reinhard Grindel president of the DFB, on 23/07/2018, who added that "as an association any form of racial hostility will not be accepted or tolerated under any circumstances."

The DBF responded to the comments of Mesut Özil, the German international of Turkish origin who announced on 22/07/2018 via his Twitter account: "It is with a heavy heart and after much consideration that because of recent events, I will no longer be playing for Germany at international level whilst I have this feeling of racism and disrespect."

Mesut Özil, 29 (born 15/10/1988), was at the center of criticism in Germany after the elimination of the Mannschaft, the previous world champions, at the end of the group stage of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. He was accused of having posed (see below) with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, then campaigning for re-election on 24/06/2018, in London (United Kingdom), on…