Hoeness: Ozil’s been playing c**p for years
BY SIMON BIRD MESUT OZIL has been slammed by Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness as “playing c**p for years” before quitting the Germany team in a racism row.
Ozil won the World Cup four years ago with Germany but believes his Turkish heritage means he is “not accepted in society. I am being treated different”.
The Arsenal playmaker tweeted on Sunday about his treatment by sponsors and the German football authorities, finishing by saying he would never play for Germany again.
But Hoeness, a World Cup winner with West Germany in 1974, hit back and said: “I’m glad this nightmare is over. He has been playing c**p for years.
“The last tackle he won was before the 2014 World Cup – and now he is hiding himself and his poor performances behind this photo.”
Ozil, a third-generation Turkish German, said only backing from boss Joachim Low and business manager Oliver Bierhoff ensured he played a part in the ill-fated campaign in Russia.
A picture of him with controversial Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan caused uproar in Germany.
But Gunners team-mate Hector Bellerin backed Ozil and said: “Well done for standing up to this behaviour!”
The German FA have “emphatically” rejected there is racism in the organisation. FOOTBALL TODAY (7.45 unless stated)
Scottish League Cup Group A
Elgin v Alloa. – St Johnstone v Falkirk. – Hearts v Cowdenbeath, Inverness v Raith. – Albion Rovers v Partick, Ayr v Stenhousemuir. – Airdrie v Annan, Berwick v Hamilton.
Group B Group C Group E Group F
– Motherwell v QOS, Stranraer v Clyde. – Queen’s Park v St Mirren, Spartans v Kilmarnock.
Group G Group H
–
Champions League Qualifying Second Round First Legs
– Astana v Midtjylland (3.0), Cluj v Malmo (5.0), PAOK v Basel (6.30), Dinamo Zagreb v Hapoel Be’er Sheva (7.0), Shkendija v Sheriff Tiraspol (7.15), Red Star Belgrade v Suduva (7.30), Legia Warsaw v Spartak Trnava (8.0).