![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/DizBk-1WAAAboiQ-1024x576.jpg\")
The German Football Association has expressed regret over Mesut \u00d6zil\u2019s retirement from international football but denied allegations of racism towards the Arsenal midfielder.<\/p>\nThe German Football Association has expressed regret over Mesut \u00d6zil\u2019s retirement from international football but denied allegations of racism towards the Arsenal midfielder.<\/p>\n
\u00d6zil, 29, won the World Cup with Germany four years ago but was also part of Joachim Low\u2019s squad which failed to progress from the group stages of this summer\u2019s tournament in Russia.<\/p>\n
In a lengthy statement posted on Twitter on Sunday evening, Ozil \u2013 a third-generation Turkish-German who was born in Gelsenkirchen \u2013 accused the German Football Association (DFB) of treating him with \u201cracism and disrespect\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u00d6zil claimed DFB chiefs wanted him \u201cout of the team\u201d before the start of the World Cup, due to the emergence of a photograph featuring him and Germany team-mate Ilkay Gundogan with Turkey\u2019s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.<\/p>\n
The picture led to criticism of \u00d6zil in Germany. According to the player, only the intervention of head coach Low and team manager Oliver Bierhoff ensured he would then take part in Russia.<\/p>\n
\u00d6zil, who won 92 caps for Germany, also revealed he and his family had received hate mail and threatening phone calls and been subjected to social media abuse.<\/p>\n
In an extensive statement of its own on Monday afternoon, issued following a conference call by the DFB board, the governing body paid tribute to the midfielder\u2019s contribution but also moved to reject any suggestions of racism.<\/p>\n
The DFB said \u00d6zil \u2013 who is currently on a pre-season tour in Singapore with Arsenal \u2013 had \u201chelped define a very successful era\u201d and \u201cplayed a key role\u201d during the 2014 World Cup triumph in Brazil, as well as praising his \u201coutstanding performances in Germany colors.\u201d<\/p>\n
The governing body, though, stressed its integration work was of \u201cfundamental importance at every level\u201d. It said: \u201cWe play and live together with our various roots, religions and cultures.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, the DFB felt the photo of \u00d6zil had \u201craised questions for many people in Germany\u201d and also \u201cself-critically acknowledge\u201d the organization \u201cplayed a part in that when dealing with this issue.\u201d<\/p>\n
While expressing regret \u00d6zil \u201cfeels as if he wasn\u2019t given enough protection when made the target of racist slogans\u201d, the DFB said it was \u201cimportant\u201d for the player to \u201cprovide answers for this photo, regardless of the way the World Cup in Russia went.\u201d<\/p>\n
The statement added: \u201cAt the DFB, we win and lose together, all of us, as a team.\u201d<\/p>\n
The DFB stressed it \u201cwould have been happy\u201d if \u00d6zil wanted to \u201ccontinue being part of this team on that common basis, but he has chosen otherwise\u201d.<\/p>\n
While not wanting to make public comment on some of \u00d6zil\u2019s statements from his Twitter post, described as \u201cincomprehensible in their tone and message\u201d, the DFB \u201cemphatically\u201d rejected being associated with racism in any part of the organisation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe DFB has been very active with its integration efforts in Germany for many years,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe stand for diversity \u2013 from the representatives at the very top to the countless people working at grassroots level each and every day.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe DFB regrets Mesut \u00d6zil\u2019s decision to step down from the national team. But it does not affect the association\u2019s determination to continue its successful work on integration.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness, who won the World Cup with West Germany in 1974, accused \u00d6zil of producing \u201ccrap\u201d performances for years when representing the national team.<\/p>\n
However, \u00d6zil\u2019s club team-mate Hector Bellerin swiftly took to social media to offer his support and praise \u00d6zil for \u201cstanding up to this behavior\u201d.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a post on the official Arsenal Twitter account reinforced the club\u2019s commitment to diversity.<\/p>\n