We turn to football and the ongoing drama between Mesut Ozil and the German Football Association. The Arsenal winger's decision to quit the national team due to the "racism and disrespect" he faced over his Turkish roots has thrown a spotlight on the country's relations with its largest immigrant community. Daniel Plafker has the details.  

Midfielder Ozil said DFB President Reinhard Grindel had blamed him for Germany's poor performance at this year's World Cup, considering him a German when the side won and an immigrant when they lost. The 29-year-old's impassioned statement on Sunday was one of the strongest issued by a player in recent years on the subject of racism, and it met with mixed reactions.

FATIH RASLAN PASSER-BY "I think there is racist in that. They didn't support him at all and make all the propaganda against him, like Germany fail in the World Cup and all of that because of Mesut Ozil, all of that. Like they try to find someone and make him guilty instead of making themselves guilty. No one forgets what the German coach did, like he didn't bring Sane - the best German player in England - he didn't bring him. Everyone forget everything, everything - Mesut Ozil, Mesut Ozil. All what happened for Germany in the World Cup was because of Erdogan photo. That's racism."

ZIV LANDA PASSER-BY "I think politics and sport shouldn't go together, never. So maybe this is his punishment."

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas questioned the debate around Ozil, saying his case did not give much insight into integration in Germany.

HEIKO MAAS GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER "I don't believe the case of a multimillionaire living and working in England gives much insight into integration in Germany. Aside from that it's obvious that Germany being knocked out of the World Cup so early has little to do with the fact that Mr. Ozil had his photograph taken with Mr. Erdogan. I think everyone involved should take a moment to reflect. Few of them behaved correctly in my view."

Yet while a few have criticised Ozil for only pouring oil onto the fire in the debate, there has been more sympathy for the 29-year-old in the wake of his statements and stronger criticism of the DFB. The DFB conceded it had not handled the matter well, adding, "it is regrettable that Mesut Ozil felt that he had not been sufficiently protected as a target of racist slogans". Daniel Plafker, CGTN.