FIFA World Cup: Ozil's dad wants victimised son to quit playing for Germany

Mesut Ozil

The father of Mesut Ozil yesterday said his son should quit Germany's national squad after he was made the scapegoat for Die Mannschaft's shock first-round defeat at the World Cup.

Ozil, 29, has come in for criticism in Germany after the World Champions crashed out in Russia. Pressure had already been mounting on the Arsenal midfielder over a controversial photograph with Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that was seized on to question his loyalty to Germany.

On Thursday, Germany's team boss Oliver Bierhoff sparked an outcry over a statement suggesting Ozil, who has Turkish roots, should have been dropped after his failure to clear up the Erdogan meeting. "This statement is insolent. It is aimed at saving one's own skin," said the midfielder's father Mustafa Ozil.

"He no longer wants to explain himself, he no longer wants to have to defend himself all the time. It has always been: if we win, we win together. But when we lose, we lose because of Ozil? He is now getting whistled at and made a scapegoat. He feels insulted." said the midfielder's father. If I were in his place, I'd say - thanks a lot but that's it!"

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