When Supporters Bring Mesut Ozil Photos to Attack Germany's Shut Up Action

JAKARTA - Some Qatar 2022 World Cup supporters attacked the German national team for their silent act by holding a photo of former Der Panzer player, Mesut Ozil.

The protest was conveyed by a group of fans when Germany drew 1-1 with Spain in the second match of Group E at the Al Bayt Stadium, Monday, November 28 in the morning WIB.

The fans were seen covering their mouths holding a hand-drawn picture of Ozil as well as other photos of the former Real Madrid man playing in the Germany jersey.

News outlet Al Jazeera speculated that the fans' action appeared to be in response to the silent protest that Germany's players staged last week in a pre-match photo shoot against Japan in response to FIFA's ban on LGBT campaigning at the 2022 World Cup.

Meanwhile, the fan satire this morning seems to refer to the racism by Germany against Ozil because of his courage to voice support for the Muslim movement.

Ozil received racial treatment before he left the German national team. He was also made a scapegoat for Germany's elimination at the start of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

At that time, Ozil, who is a descendant of German-born Turkish immigrants, accused the German football federation, fans, and media of racism against people of Turkish descent.

"I am German when we win, but I am an immigrant when we lose," Ozil said during his departure from the German national team, quoted by Al Jazeera.

Ozil is considered one of the greatest midfielders of his generation. Hence, his resignation from the German team in 2018 caused shockwaves.

Ozil's German racism began before the 2018 World Cup when his Germany team-mate Ilkay Gundogan posed for a photo with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Gundogan also has a Turkish family background. He was then jeered by German supporters during a World Cup warm-up match.

The racist abuse against Ozil began to increase after the tournament in Russia. At that time, Germany's team manager Oliver Bierhoff and then-president of the federation, Reinhard Grindel, issued a scathing statement.