Qatari fans hold up pictures of Mesut Ozil to Germany supporters during World Cup game vs Spain

Football fans in the stands hold portraits of German football player Mesut Ozil during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group E football match between Spain and Germany at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, north of Doha on November 27, 2022. World Cup - Fans Hold Portraits of Mesut Ozil, Al Khor, Qatar - 27 Nov 2022 — Followers in Qatar held up images of Mesut Ozil throughout Germany’s match in opposition to Spain (ABACA/Shutterstock)

Qatari followers hit again at Germany’s World Cup protest by holding up footage of Mesut Ozil throughout the match in opposition to Spain on Sunday night.

Final week, Germany’s gamers staged a coordinated protest earlier than their World Cup opener in opposition to Japan as they lined their mouths for the crew picture.

This gesture was in response to FIFA’s refusal to permit gamers to put on OneLove armbands on the World Cup, which was considered as a means of highlighting LGBTQ+ discrimination in Qatar.

However a bunch of Qatari followers responded to Germany’s protest on Sunday night as they held up footage of Ozil, who give up the German nationwide crew in 2018 after being subjected to racist abuse following the nation’s early World Cup exit.

Ozil was additionally criticised in Germany for assembly with Turkish chief Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier than the event.

‘I'm German once we win, however I'm an immigrant once we lose,’ Ozil, who was born in Germany to Turkish dad and mom, mentioned after his facet’s elimination on the World Cup.

AL KHOR, QATAR - NOVEMBER 27: Fans hold photos and posters of Mesut Ozil of Medipol Basaksehir during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group E match between Spain and Germany at Al Bayt Stadium on November 27, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar. (Photo by Mohammed Dabbous/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) — Followers additionally lined their mouths to imitate Germany’s protest on the World Cup final week (Anadolu Company through Getty Photos)

Spectators hold photo of Forman German international Mesut Ozil on the stands at the end of the World Cup group E soccer match between Spain and Germany, at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor , Qatar, Monday, Nov. 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) — Followers are accusing Germany of hypocrisy following their therapy of Mesut Ozil in 2018 (AP)

After the event, the now former president of Germany’s soccer federation (DFB) Reinhard Grindel admitted to creating errors over Ozil’s therapy.

He mentioned: ‘The resignation assertion by Mesut Ozil has triggered a debate on racism usually and the power of soccer to combine specifically. As DFB President, I don't need to escape this debate.

‘In hindsight, I, as president, ought to have unequivocally mentioned what for me and the affiliation is apparent: any type of racial hostility is insupportable.’

People on the stands hold portraits of German football player Mesut Ozil during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group E football match between Spain and Germany at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, north of Doha on November 27, 2022. (Photo by Ina Fassbender / AFP) (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images) — Germany’s gamers might clearly see the Mesut Ozil footage from the pitch (AFP through Getty)

Germany v Japan: Group E - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 — Germany’s gamers staged a protest earlier than their World Cup opener final week (GES Sportfoto/Getty)

In the meantime, Ilkay Gundogan has recommended Germany is not going to stage any extra protests in Qatar.

‘Truthfully, my viewpoint is, now the politics are completed,’ Gundogan mentioned after Germany’s 1-1 draw with Spain.

‘The nation of Qatar may be very proud to host the World Cup, additionally the primary Muslim nation, and I come from a Muslim household. So the Muslim neighborhood is proud. So I feel now it’s nearly soccer.’