Mesut Ozil, a former player for Arsenal, Real Madrid, and Germany who resigned from the beautiful game in 2023, has been prohibited from rejoining SV Werder Bremen because of “recent actions” that “do not represent the club’s values.”
Before retiring at the seasoned age of 34 two years ago, Ozil played for numerous teams throughout Europe. The 92-cap Germany international, who won the World Cup in 2014, played 108 games for Bremen between 2008 and 2010. However, according to recent rumours, the Gelsenkirchen-born star will not be permitted to attend Bremen events going forward.
Despite playing with the Brazilian on 41 occasions between 2007 and 2009, Ozil is unable to attend the Bundesliga team, who are currently in 12th place in Germany’s top division, as they host a farewell game for Diego Ribas this weekend.
According to GOAL via German tabloid Bild, he was absent because of displaying a tattoo that depicts a grey wolf and a flag with three crescent moons, despite the fact that he managed to manufacture 16 goals and 54 assists for Die Werderaner.
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As mentioned, the emblems are associated with far-right organisations that support ultra-nationalism, far-right extremism, and anti-Semitism. According to Bild, a club representative claimed that Ozil’s “recent actions” were the cause of his exclusion.
Diego and I have decided not to invite Mesut because of his recent behaviour, which is inconsistent with the club’s principles.
According to The Sun, the Grey Wolves are a contentious far-right outfit in Turkey that is prohibited in France and Austria. They have been connected to a number of high-profile murders, including the 1981 attempt on Pope John Paul II’s life.
The competition’s organisers, UEFA, banned Merih Demiral, a player for Al-Ahli of the Saudi Pro League, from participating in two games during Turkey’s Euro 2024 campaign after he broke the “basic rules of decent conduct” with his “Grey Wolf” celebration.
Before the latter joined Real Madrid in 2010, Diego and Ozil, who is considered by many to be one of the greatest passers in football history, played together at the Weser Stadium. However, an agreement has been reached to prevent him from attending the game.
Ozil has stayed in Turkey, where he completed his career with Istanbul Basaksehir, and has turned to politics, working with Turkey’s AK Party, to keep himself occupied while maintaining such a high standard of living during his post-retirement reign.
