Rummenigge blames Ozil's agent for stirring up claims of racism
The Bayern CEO believes the player’s agent has fabricated claims of racist behaviour behind him leaving the German national side
Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has taken another shot at Mesut Ozil after the Arsenal star retired from Germany duty amid claims of “racism” and “disrespect”.
Ozil announced the decision in the third part of a lengthy statement released on his Twitter account, with the first part explaining the reasoning behind his controversial photograph with Turkey president Recep Erdogan and the second update criticising how the media and sponsors reacted to the incident.
The controversy over Ozil after Germany failed to make it out of the group stage at the World Cup in Russia has continued, with the likes of Lothar Matthaus, Uli Hoeness and the German Football Federation (DFB) responding harshly to his claims.
Ozil’s agent, Dr Erkut Sogut, hit back at “foolish” comments Hoeness in the wake of the Arsenal star’s decision to retire from international football with Germany. Erkut, as part of a larger statement, told Goal: “The comments of Mr Hoeness miss the point completely, as they have absolutely nothing to do with football. He is trying to divert attention away from the real issue, the issue of racism and discrimination in Germany, which is resurging once again within everyday German society.”
Rummenigge has now added more fuel to the fire, claiming that the agent’s comments are false and that the 29-year-old was not attacked because of his heritage.
“He was not criticised because he has Turkish heritage,” Rummenigge told Sport Bild. “That is a tale that his agents tell us.
“And that is something that annoys me more and more recently. Nowadays agents do many interviews and statements. Sometimes it is like a fairy tale audition.”
The Bayern CEO also backed Hoeness and his claims that the Bundesliga side never felt he was a top player.
“Mesut Ozil was never a player that we dealt with [as a potential signing] at one percent. Never,” he said
“When we played in London, Uli always said: ‘I hope he plays tonight.'”
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