Ilkay Gundogan condemns 'racially motivated' treatment of Mesut Ozil

Ozil quit international football last month, citing the 'racism and disrespect' he has faced in Germany over his Turkish roots

Ilkay Gundogan has condemned the treatment of Mesut Ozil following Germany’s World Cup exit, insisting his fellow compatriot was subject to “racially motivated” abuse.

Gundogan jumped to the defence of Ozil in an interview with Funke after the German was singled out for his performances in Russia.

Prior to the World Cup, Ozil was also criticised for meeting with Turkey president Recep Erdogan while calls were made to drop him from Joachim Low’s national squad.

Ozil quit international football last month, citing the “racism and disrespect” he has faced in Germany over his Turkish roots.

Now, Gundogan has backed his former international team-mate.

He said: “Was the affair racially motivated? You’re telling me! Is it not racism when a German politician writes on Facebook: ‘The German national football team: 25 Germans and two goat f*****s?’,” the Manchester City player said.

“That’s something you have to call racism. Nevertheless, that does not mean that all people in Germany are racists – not at all. Almost all my life I have had good experiences in Germany. I want to say that very clearly here.

“But there are people who have politically used the resulting photo for themselves. And in this context, the line to racism was partially crossed.”

Gundogan in action for Manchester City (Getty Images)

Gundogan also played down speculation that the German national squad is suffering from internal divisions.

“At the 2014 World Cup, it was ‘Die Mannschaft’ everywhere with 23 very best buddies and now, after a disappointing 2018 World Cup, there is talk of fractured groupings, though they were largely the same players and characters,” he said. “This is now exaggerated from the outside.

“In sporting terms, I think Mesut’s resignation is a pity. He did a lot for German football. It’s a loss for the team. Mesut has also done a lot for me personally. He was one of the reasons why I wanted to play for Germany.

“He has paved the way for me. So I would have wished that he would get a better, deserved goodbye. However, one has to say that it was Mesut’s decision to go that way – with all the consequences. I would have done it differently – because I’m different.”