Joachim Low: 'Mesut Ozil did not consult me before Germany retirement'

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter | 29 August 2018

Germany head coach Joachim Low reveals that Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil did not speak to him before announcing his international retirement.

Germany head coach Joachim Low has claimed that Mesut Ozil did not speak to him before announcing his international retirement.

Last month, the Arsenal midfielder revealed that he would "no longer be playing for Germany" after accusing some German FA officials of racism.

In a statement posted on social media in July, Ozil also said that a section of the German media had "repeatedly" blamed his dual heritage and his picture with Turkish president Recep Erdogan "for a bad World Cup on behalf of an entire squad".

However, Low rubbished suggestions of racist elements within the Germany squad and questioned why Ozil chose to announce his retirement before raising his concerns.

"His agent called me and told me that Mesut would announce his retirement," Low is quoted by Sky Sports News as saying. "The player himself did not call me. Ozil has chosen a different path and until this moment, he has not called me.

"I have tried by phone and text message but I have not been able to reach him. I have to accept that, I probably underestimated the whole situation.

"The topic has taken a lot of energy, but it should not be an alibi. The statement from Ozil was perhaps a bit hasty. There has never an approach of racism in our team."

Germany failed to progress from the group stage at Russia 2018.