China: Mesut Özil (Arsenal) removed from PES 2020 video game (Konami) after his political comments

The German player Mesut Özil (Arsenal FC, Premier League) has been removed from the Chinese version of the efootball video game Pro Evolution Soccer 2020 of Konami, the Japanese publisher of the game announced on 18/12/2019, following comments by the player (see below) published on his Twitter and Instagram accounts (46.8 million followers in total) criticizing the Chinese government for its policy towards the Muslim minority of the Uighurs, on 13/12/2019.

Arsenal FC - Manchester City FC (0-3), for Matchday 17 of the 2019-20 Premier League, had its broadcast cancelled by the Chinese public audiovisual group CCTV on 15/12/2019, following the player's political comments.

Konami is an official partner of Arsenal FC (second level in the club's sponsorship hierarchy) until 2022 and the English club is promoting the efootball game Pro Evolution Soccer 2020. The Japanese publisher benefits from visibility on LED panels and screens at the Emirates Stadium, as well as on the club's communication platforms, hospitality packages and match tickets. Konami extended his contract on 28/06/2019…