For me, I think Ozil's excuses for having the picture with the dictator of Turkey fall flat and they're showing his ignorance at the highest level. Saying a picture with a politican has no political intentions is ignorant, that picture will be used to say you endorse him. When you're as famous as Ozil is, and you're such a role model for young German and Turkish people, and for young Arsenal fans, you know how every word you say, picture you take, will have an impact. Saying that taking a picture was about "respecting the office of my family's country" and not taking it would be "disrespecting the roots of my ancestors" just continues the ignorance. The reason why sports stars in America today who oppose the racism and inequality that Donald Trump condones, endorses and partakes in himself, don't pose pictures with him, isn't because they don't respect the office of the Presidency. It's because they do respect the office of the Presidency, and know how much power and influence the President holds, and someone who doesn't fight for the same type of justice and equality we want doesn't deserve to hold that power. Taking pictures with Donald Trump will legitimize him, it would do a lot of damage, and I criticize any sports star who poses with Donald Trump today, him and the republican policies are not what anyone should be endorsing. Saying that you're a footballer and not a politician doesn't exclude you, and the fact he says himself that he doesn't hold Erdogan accountable for his actions in a conversation with him, and just speaks about football, only speaks to that ignorance. Being a footballer doesn't mean you need to play nice when your president calls you for a picture. The message he should be sending out is that it doesn't matter who you are, or what you do, or what office or position someone holds, if someone doesn't deserve respect, it shouldn't be given to them. It's not disrespectful to your ancestors or to your country to not stand in line with a dictator for a photo, that's one of the largest forms of respect.
That being said, my problem with Ozil is that he posed for a picture with a dictator and is using his own ignorance as an excuse. I don't, and nobody should be using where his family came from, or what religion he follows, as something to attack him with. Islamophobia is real, xenophobia is real, not just in America but in Germany and many countries in Europe. The type of attacks that these fascist, racist politicians and people use against Ozil have no place in our society, and the racial abuse he's been subjected to is disgusting. Criticize someone for what they do, what they say, what they believe in and support, not for what they are or where they came from.
And because there's a lot of whataboutism in this topic. Yes, I think all countries shouldn't have participated in the World Cup and legitimized Putin and his dogshit regime. I think the World Cup and nationalism that it brings out in general is bad. I am not nationalistic at all.
