Erdogan says treatment of Germany's Ozil racist and unacceptable

Reuters , Tuesday 24 Jul 2018

Ozil
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan meets with Arsenal's soccer player Mesut Ozil in London, Britain May 13, 2018. Picture taken May 13, 2018 REUTERS

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday the treatment of Mesut Ozil was unacceptable after the soccer star quit Germany's national team.

"Such a racist treatment towards a young man who has given his all to the German national team for his religious beliefs is unacceptable," Erdogan told reporters in parliament.

He said he spoke to Ozil on Monday night and described his approach as "beyond any form of admiration", adding that Ozil's critics "could not stomach" the photograph of the soccer star and Erdogan that prompted criticism ahead of the World Cup.

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