Make Goals, Not Hate #IStandWithOzil
As the thunderstorm in Moscow started to provide a steady company to the Croatian tears, Suits darker than the grey clouds blocked the well placed cameras positioned to capture the money shot of the FIFA World Cup 2018.
The World saw wet suits before seeing Hugo Lloris lift the Jules Rimet and there was no better way to convey the fact that the beautiful game is no longer confined to the boundaries of the football field but to the borders of our Countries.
Today, the German football federation and the Country’s politicians achieved something that only the Arsenal and more recently the German Strikers have managed to achieve so far. They tainted the brilliance of Mesut Ozil.
The poisonous fangs of political greed and opportunism claimed yet another victim as Ozil at the age of 29 retired from the German National Team stating racism and abuse as the main reasons. The German machinery just shot down its own engine.
Across the world, the nationalism narrative is getting stronger by the day and this time a simple photo of Ozil presenting an Arsenal jersey to the Turkish President Erdogan was enough for the German Football Federation’s Chief to denounce a player who has given his all for the German National Team.
Bernd Holzhauer, a German politician took it to the next level with an unwarranted ‘Goat F**ker’ remark which I first read as ‘Goal Maker’ thanks to the innumerable assists provided by Mesut. Sigh, the world would be a better place if only the tongues have an inbuilt auto correct feature.
Ozil is not alone. Mo Salah, the Egyptian Striker, whose fame and following can only be bettered by the Great Pyramids was used as a political tool and made to meet Chechnian Leaders just before the World Cup in Russia creating huge uproar and hate directed towards him.
The Internet with its power to cause pain made Sergio Ramos look like Santa Claus asMo Salah almost threw in the towel and wanted out before changing his mind to stay on and bring joy to fellow Egyptians.
During the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Didier Drogba made a plea that brought two warring factions in Ivory Coast to drop their weapons and come together for peace. That is what football is all about. When not put to use for petty political gains, football has the power to unite people, forget differences and bring a sense of positive pride.
When the wet well-tailored Suits blocked the French celebration, they actually blocked out a team primarily made of immigrants wearing the blue of France dancing together in the Moscow rain holding a golden trophy. The French National Team’s triumph is a great proof to show that human beings are special not because we are different but because we are all the same.
The Gunner in me is happy that our wizard can chill during the International breaks this season but it will be sad not to have Mesut Ozil dance around the midfield wearing the German White dispatching through balls piercing through opponent defenses for Muller and co to chase.
To all you folks at the DFB and especially you Mr Holzhauer, I got only one thing to sing
‘We got Ozil,
Mesut Ozil,
I just don’t think you understand,
He’s Arsene Wenger’s Man,
He’s better than Zidane,
We’ve got Mesut Ozil’
#IStandWithMesutOzil
