Ozil: My stance on the Uighurs cost me my career at Arsenal, but I have no regrets

Former German international and Arsenal player Mesut Ozil has revealed that his public stance on the issue of Uighur Muslims in China was one of the factors that negatively affected his career at the London club, confirming that he was aware beforehand that this stance might cause him trouble, but that he nevertheless has no regrets about what he said.

According to comments reported by the British media, including The Sun, Ozil explained that his public comments in 2019 regarding abuses against the Uighurs in the Xinjiang region had professional repercussions, noting that “after that, certain doors were closed to him and he no longer enjoyed the same opportunities within the team”.

The former German international added that he knew that getting involved in sensitive political or humanitarian issues might put him under significant pressure, but he felt that using his fame to express his stance was necessary for him, even if it came at a professional cost.

The story dates back to December 2019, when Ozil posted a message on his social media accounts criticising the situation of the Uighurs in China, prompting Arsenal at the time to distance themselves from his comments and emphasise that the club does not interfere in political issues, before his appearances for the team gradually declined, culminating in his departure in 2021.

Media reports, including The Guardian, suggest that the controversy following his remarks marked a turning point in his relationship with the club, given the political and commercial sensitivity of the issue.

Featured image via UEFA