German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged Germany fans not to boo Mesut Ozil and Ilkay Gundogan during the World Cup.
The FIFA World Cup 2018 kicks off on Thursday and before the tournament, most of the participating teams were busy playing warm-ups.
And during Germany’s warm-up matches against Austria and Saudi Arabia, Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil and Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan were whistled at.
The German people got angry at both the players after the duo met the president of Turkey in London for an event last month.
Mesut Ozil and Ilkay Gundogan are in trouble with German officials after meeting with Turkey's controversial president: https://t.co/m5l18LNFiW pic.twitter.com/JNJYcKu8JN
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 15, 2018
Pictures emerged of Ozil and Gundogan posing with President Erdogan and these quickly became the point of debate amongst the German fans.
Merkel though has come out in support of the Premier League stars and she has urged the fans to ‘clap’ and not whistle at Ozil and Gundogan.
Merkel said on ARD talk show Anne Will on Sunday night:
“I think the two players had not considered how the photograph with President Erdogan would have been perceived,
“I think we all need them now so that we can do well and so I would be happy if some fans could clap too”.
Germany have been drawn in Group F of the World Cup and they start their campaign next Sunday when they take on Mexico.
