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Mesut Ozil will play no part in Diego Ribas' farewell game for Werder Bremen.
Former Arsenal and Germany star Mesut Ozil has been banned from visiting Werder Bremen, the club where he made his breakthrough in top-flight football, due to his “recent actions” that allegedly go against the Bundesliga side’s core values.
The decision comes ahead of Werder Bremen’s farewell game for club legend Diego Ribas this Saturday, an event set to reunite some of the club’s biggest names.
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But despite playing alongside Diego during the 2008-09 season, Ozil’s name is notably absent from the guest list.
Werder Bremen confirms Ozil snub amid political allegiance
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According to German newspaper BILD, a Werder Bremen spokesperson confirmed the snub, stating: “We have agreed with Diego not to invite Mesut due to his recent actions, which do not represent the club’s values.”
Since retiring from football, Ozil has increasingly involved himself in politics, aligning with controversial figures and movements.
His ties to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who served as best man at his wedding in 2019, have long sparked debate.
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Furthermore, Ozil was appointed to the Central Decision and Management Board for Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party, solidifying his political stance.
Mesut Ozil’s Tattoo that sparked outrage
However, the latest controversy stems from a tattoo recently spotted on Ozil’s chest, which appears to feature a grey wolf with three crescent moons—symbols often associated with the far-right Turkish nationalist movement known as the Grey Wolves.
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As per The Sun, the Grey Wolves have a dark history, including their alleged involvement in the 1981 attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II.
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The group is banned in France and Austria, with its extremist ideology drawing widespread condemnation.
When approached for comment, Ozil’s representatives refused to confirm or deny whether the tattoo was a direct reference to the Grey Wolves, according to The Telegraph.
Ozil is not the only Turkish footballer to face backlash for alleged links to the group.
Turkey international Merih Demiral was slapped with a two-match ban by UEFA last summer after performing a "Grey Wolf" hand gesture during Euro 2024.
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UEFA ruled that his actions “violated the basic rules of decent conduct” and “brought football into disrepute.”
Ozil, who now sports a dramatically bulked-up physique, has been out of the footballing limelight since his retirement.
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