Updated December 19th, 2019 at 13:14 IST
Mesut Ozil removed from PES 2020 after comments on China’s treatment of Uighur Muslims
Arsenal star Mesut Ozil will be removed from the 2020 version of PES due to his controversial tweet in support for the Uighur Muslims in China. Read more.
Advertisement
Mesut Ozil has largely been a peripheral figure at Arsenal this season. He has featured just 11 times for the Gunners and is yet to find the back of the net this season. Despite his on-field struggles, the World Cup winner has been renowned for his vocal opinions on various socio-political issues pertaining to Turkey and his Muslim brethren.
Also Read | Mikel Arteta's Arsenal appointment opposed by Aubameyang, but not the player
Mesut Ozil thanked by supporters for speaking out on Uighur atrocities in China
It takes a lot of courage for a celebrity to speak up about the atrocities that our #Uyghur brothers and sisters face in China, the way @MesutOzil1088 did. Thank you brother for standing up to injustice!
— Maher Zain (@MaherZain)
#IStandWithOzil #IStandWithUyghur pic.twitter.com/aM4J0mKEOD
Also Read | Zlatan Ibrahimovic to reunite with ex-manager Carlo Ancelotti at Everton?
Mesut Ozil removed from PES 2020 China version after Tweet about Uighur Muslims
#HayırlıCumalarDoğuTürkistan 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/dJgeK4KSIk
— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088)
Also Read | Carlo Ancelotti will take home THIS AMOUNT if Everton avoid relegation
There was severe backlash from Chinese football fans who were not at all happy with Mesut Ozil's public display of support towards Uighur Muslims in China. The Turkish-born footballer, who moved to Arsenal from Real Madrid in 2013, called Uighurs "warriors who resist persecution". In response to the public backlash in China, PES official publishers in China - NetEase - said that Mesut Ozil has been removed from three existing titles in the country. Earlier this year, Chinese NBA fans were left outraged when Houston Rockets' manager Daryl Morey tweeted in support of Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters.
Also Read | Jurgen Klopp sends heartening message to Neil Critchley at half-time during Carabao Cup QF
Yaya Toure feels Mesut Ozil was wrong to speak out on Uighur Muslims issue
Yaya Toure just finished a spell playing in China & he’s Muslim like Mesut Ozil.
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris)
But Toure believes Ozil shouldn’t have spoken out on China’s human rights, while acknowledging "as a Muslim it is complicated and it is his choice."https://t.co/fqWng3KBsY pic.twitter.com/tKN7vWdLkb
Also Read | Paul Scholes or Steven Gerrard? Who would Thierry Henry play with?
Advertisement
Published December 19th, 2019 at 12:08 IST