Racism against Turkish Heritage football players residing in Germany

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Two German footballers of Turkish heritage posing for photographs with the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, have reignited a debate over dual citizenship and national identity in Germany, as the country embarks on a bid to defend its World Cup title.

Midfielders Mesut Özil and Ilkay Gündoğan, who currently play for Arsenal and Manchester City in the Premier League and are both set to represent their birth country at the tournament in Russia this summer, were criticised by politicians including the chancellor, Angela Merkel, for meeting with Erdoğan during his visit to the UK.

In a meeting at London’s Four Seasons hotel on Sunday evening, which was also attended by German-born Everton striker Cenk Tosun, the players handed signed club shirts to the leader of Turkey’s Justice and Development (AKP) party. The shirt given by Gündoğan, who holds German and Turkish passports, bore the message: “To my president, with my respects.”

The pictures amount to a PR coup for Erdoğan, who is seeking to extend his 15-year rule in a snap poll on 24 June but is banned from holding election campaign rallies on German soil. About 1.2 million people in Germany with a Turkish background are eligible to vote in the election.

Diplomatic relations between Germany and Turkey were already frayed over the one-year imprisonment of recently released German-Turkish journalist Deniz Yücel. But the backlash to the incident has been even louder because Özil and Gündoğan have both been championed as successful examples of Germany’s policy of cultural integration.

World Cup winner Özil was awarded an “integration” prize by the Hubert Burda Media group in 2010. That year the president of Germany’s football association (DFB) had complained about politicising football after Merkel made an unscheduled visit to the Germany changing room following a 3-0 win over Turkey. Photographs of the German chancellor shaking goalscorer Özil’s hand were distributed by the government to the press afterwards

Some journalists and rightwing politicians had called for Özil and Gündoğan to be kicked out of the national side. Sebastian Münzenmaier, an MP for the rightwing nationalist Alternative für Deutschland, said unless the two players stopped “flattering” the Turkish president, “the Turkish national side can look forward to two new players”. Football players cannot switch national teams after they have represented one country at senior level.

 

[Kamil_baku]

if they do it, its even better for Turkey as they will pay Turkish taxes and play for Turkish national team..

 

[waz]

@AZADPAKISTAN2009 brother we already had this thread, so if it is ok with you I'll close it.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Sure I did not see it apologies on my side

 

[Killuminati]

And thats why we gonna vote Erdogan again!

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

It's strange I only found about it while watching live game between Germany vs Saudia , I was like why is every one booing Gundogan every time he touched ball german fans were booing him just for merely respecting Turkish president I was shocked what was happening

Even german coach turned around and tried to calm down fan's response

I must admit I have never seen this before in football

Ozil was on bench for game so not sure what kind of response he would have received but for these two players to respect their eternal connection to Turkey is normal why would they not shake hand with Erdogan or have some solidarity with Turkish people it is their heritage