Former Bayern Munich forward, Giovane Elber says he has never experienced racism in Germany during his playing days.
Giovane Elber played for Bayern Munich for six seasons.
Elbar claimed he was never on the receiving end of what Mesut Ozil claims to have been a victim of. Ozil claimed, in his retirement statement, that he was stepping down due to “racism and disrespect” following Germany’s group stage elimination at the FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia. Accusing the DFB president of racism, he also said,
“I am German when we win, but I am an immigrant when we lose.”
However, Elbar insists he was never subjected to such treatment when he was playing in Germany.
“No, in Germany, thankfully, I never had any issues with racism. Not me, my family, my kids. It always went really well, and everyone always respected me the same way, no matter who it was, always with respect. With Ozil, I think it was a thing done without thinking much.”
Elber says he was referring to the photograph Ozil took with Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which sparked a firestorm of controversy in Germany.
Indeed, there were even calls for the Arsenal midfielder to be left out of the national team squad altogether. And the former Bayern forward believes sport and politics should always be kept apart.
“Yes, the photo he took because it started a problem that wasn’t necessary. On the other hand, it’s the president of the country where he has roots. You have to understand that. In Brazil, we always say that football can’t mix with politics. Politics is another thing; football is on its own. It moves people.”
Some of his team-mates have backed Ozil’s decision at club and country level. But some believes he should do more to highlight injustices in Turkey and around the world.