May 21 – British-based German internationals Mesut Ozil and Ilkay Gundogan met German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the weekend in a series of clear the air talks after they were pictured with Turkey’s controversial president President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The pair, both of Turkish origin, had been lambasted by their national federation and German politicians for cosying up to Erdogan, who has cracked down on political opponents, during his state visit of the UK. They handed over signed Arsenal and Manchester City shirts to the 64-year-old, who has served as President of Turkey since 2014 having previously been Prime Minister since 2003.
Gundogan’s shirt had ‘With respect for my president’ written on it but he later said it was not the intention of the two players to make a political statement or be drawn into campaigning for Turkey’s elections next month.
The photos unleashed a storm of criticism from lawmakers across Germany’s political spectrum and the DFB football federation, all of whom argued that Erdogan does not sufficiently respect German values.
“The two players contacted us and the DFB and wanted to clear this issue up,” Germany coach Joachim Loew told reporters “The German president suggested they meet with him as well. There was a discussion. Now we can start talking about other things.”
Turkish police have arrested more than 50,000 people accused of links to US-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen or to Kurdish separatists. They include opposition activists, journalists, teachers, lawyers and other public servants. Erdogan has also purged the military, police and judiciary, putting many state officials on trial.
“Ilkay Gundogan and Mesut Ozil expressed a desire to visit me,” Steinmeier posted on Facebook alongside a picture of him with the players in Berlin. “It was important to both of them to clear up any misunderstandings that came up.”
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