Mesut Özil quits international football citing racism

Mesut Özil has announced his retirement from international football with immediate effect, the midfielder hitting out at what he perceived to be unfair discrimination surrounding his meeting with the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in May.

Özil was a member of the Germany squad that went out of the World Cup finals in Russia at the group stage and was the target of criticism for his performances as well as his meeting with Erdogan, who has been accused of human rights abuses.

The Arsenal midfielder has Turkish ancestry and defended his actions in a lengthy statement and one in which he launched a scathing attack on the German football federation (DFB). "For me, having a picture with President Erdogan wasn't about politics or elections, it was about me respecting the highest office of my family's country," Özil wrote on Twitter.

"My job is a football player and not a politician, and our meeting was not an endorsement of any policies. The treatment I have received from the DFB and many others makes me no longer want to wear the German national team shirt. I feel unwanted and think what I have achieved since my international debut in 2009 has been forgotten."

Making direct reference to Reinhard Grindel, president of the DFB, Özil added: "People with racially discriminative backgrounds should not be allowed to work in the largest football federation in the world that has players from dual-heritage families. Attitudes like theirs simply do not reflect the players they supposedly represent. In the eyes of Grindel and his supporters, I am German when we win but I am an immigrant when we lose.

"It is with a heavy heart and after much consideration that because of recent events I will no longer be playing for Germany at international level whilst I have this feeling of racism and disrespect. I used to wear the German shirt with such pride and excitement, but now I don't. I feel unwanted and think that what I have achieved since my international debut in 2009 has been forgotten."

In a three-part statement posted on Sunday evening, Özil was scathing in his criticism of Grindel. "I will no longer stand for being a scapegoat for his incompetence and inability to do his job properly," Özil wrote.

"I am disappointed but not surprised by [Grindel's]actions," the 29-year-old added. "But when high-ranking DFB officials disrespect my Turkish roots and selfishly turn me into political propaganda, then enough is enough."

The 29-year-old added that he had received abuse online, and claimed he was racially abused by a supporter after the match against Sweden.

"A German fan told me after the game, ‘Özil, fuck off you Turkish shit, piss off you Turkish pig.' I don't want to even discuss the hate mail, threatening phone calls and comments on social media that my family and I have received.

"They all represent a Germany of the past, a Germany that I am not proud of. I am confident that many proud Germans who embrace an open society would agree with me." – Guardian service

World Cup teams support FIFA's integrity initiative

The best way to safeguard the integrity of football is for all stakeholders to work together. In recent weeks, FIFA has been impressed with the level of support shown by the participating member associations (MAs) in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ to help raise awareness about potential threats to the game.

Leading up to the tournament, FIFA, in collaboration with the respective confederations, organised regional integrity workshops with the individuals who have been appointed by each MA to be their single point of contact for integrity matters, which includes match manipulation.

The objective of the workshops was to provide information about FIFA’s specific preventive measures for protecting the integrity of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The MA representatives were also given tips, tools and templates for running their own briefings with their respective teams, while at the same time being encouraged to tailor these briefings based on the specificities of their region.

The MA-led integrity briefings that followed served to remind all players and officials that they might be potential targets of match fixers during the World Cup, and that they are required to report any potential breaches that may jeopardise the integrity of a match directly to FIFA. The briefings also provided an opportunity to raise awareness about FIFA’s zero tolerance approach as well as the relevant FIFA regulations.

Real world impact
FIFA provides a dedicated confidential reporting platform, BKMS, where individuals can report any form or knowledge of potential match manipulation or corruption. Reports can be submitted anonymously and the mechanism is administered by an external provider specialising in secure and confidential handling of sensitive information.

A new FIFA Integrity App is also available via the Apple and Google Play stores. The mobile app provides another confidential reporting platform to help fight against match manipulation and corruption.

FIFA’s integrity initiative focusses on five main areas: prevention, detection, intelligence-gathering, investigation and sanctions. The focus in 2018 and beyond is on further strengthening a global integrity initiative helping confederations and member associations to gain the necessary knowledge and capabilities to fight match manipulation at national level and to support the implementation of a range of preventive measures as well as to adopt long-term, sustainable approaches on ethics and integrity matters.

Recognise, resist, report is the anti-match manipulation protocol that FIFA promotes worldwide, with the continued support of football stakeholders.

Football opens hearts

Every month, as part of its EqualGame campaign, UEFA is focusing on a person from one of its 55 member associations. This person will be an example of how football promotes inclusion, accessibility and diversity; his or her story will exemplify how disability, religion, sexuality, ethnicity and social background are no barriers to playing and enjoying football.

"I am a coach, but football has become more than a game to me," says Oleksandr Fomichov, who is using "the power of football" to improve the lives of people in his community. "It's an education, a philosophy and a phenomenon."

A lawyer and businessman by profession, the 32-year-old, who is originally from Donetsk, moved from the eastern Ukrainian city following the outbreak of unrest in 2014. He left behind his business, while some family members were unable to follow him. However, he has succeeded in creating a new life for himself in the western Ukrainian city of Ivano-Frankivsk.

He now works for the League of Tolerance charity, whose goal is to teach people about common values and the importance of inclusion, enabling them to look at life from a different perspective, which ultimately leads to positive change.

In a compelling analogy, Oleksandr explains: "Football pitches mirror society as a whole. We use football to show that we all should be involved in the game, and that in the same way we should all be involved in society.

"I see how people change when they start working together, they forget about stereotypes and prejudices," he reflects. "They simply meet and want to find out a lot more about each other. They become friends and then change their own lives and include others in their hobbies."

In 2016, Oleksandr noticed there were a number of different organisations in Ukraine helping those who were internally displaced. He decided to try something similar, and so the League of Tolerance was born.

"We are always looking for ideas," he says. "We are always ready to improve our projects, and we want to try and spark a response in the hearts of other people." Aside from promoting the need for inclusion, the programme is having a wider footballing benefit by helping to give quality training sessions to those involved.

"In the first year we held eight training sessions around Ukraine and produced 97 coaches," he said. "They are the graduates of our programmes, and each one has contributed to the communities in which they live."

Oleksandr has also realised that football is "a phenomenon" which can be used as a tool to draw children into education. He believes any subject at school can be related to the game, thus making it more interesting for youngsters to learn.

The same criteria apply on the football field. For him, it is vitally important that "everybody is included and nobody is excluded", with these rules relevant not just to football but to society in general.

"In life, if we show that we are all equal and that we are all included, then social life becomes brighter and helps us to all open up," he explains.

This ethos is shared by one of Ukraine's greatest-ever sportsmen – former multiple world heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko, who insists that everyone has the right to achieve the goals they set in life.

"Every person can play football. We must deliver the message to every person that nothing is impossible. Everything is possible if you have the will, the fire and an understanding that you can achieve new goals," says Klitschko, now the mayor of Kyiv.

"The most interesting and important thing is that everybody has a dream. It's important to dream, but it's more important to do everything to make this dream come true."

Oleksandr's love of the game shines through in all he does. A decent footballer in his youth, he is now showing through his role as a coach that the sport has the unique power to foster inclusion.

"We invite people from the whole of Ukraine, irrespective of their background: some may have disabilities, some may be from ethnic minorities and some might be internally displaced," he says. "Thanks to our work, we can get all these groups together and show that, on the training ground, people communicate with each other and realise there is actually no difference between us at all."

Andriy Shevchenko, one of Ukraine's best-ever footballers, is also of the opinion that everyone should have the right to play football, adding that it is of paramount importance to have "respect for everyone".

"Football is an international game. It has nothing to do with politics or religion. It's a game that's accessible to all and it should be pure, not only in the top competitions but also among children," says Shevchenko, currently the head coach of Ukraine's national team.

A modest and articulate man, Oleksandr Fomichov pours his heart into what he fiercely believes will result in a better future for his community and country.

"Keeping faith in people is the most important factor for the development of every country and the world as a whole. We can build a sustainable society and use football as one of the tools that brings us together."

4 takeaways from Penn State football’s Blue-White game

While coach James Franklin likes to use the Blue-White game as a recruiting tool and to give back to the fans, there is still plenty of value for the coaching staff, especially with a young team full of position battles.

The White squad scored for the first time since 2015 and even got into the endzone. With so much change over from last year's team, there were plenty of storylines to watch for on the field.

Here are my four observations:

Lamont Wade's role

One of the more surprising things I heard after the game yesterday came from defensive coordinator Brent Pry. While Lamont Wade was moved to safety this spring, Pry said that it wasn't decided if he would play safety or cornerback in the fall. Wade spent his entire true freshman season playing corner with limited snaps. I originally thought he would be best suited to play safety when he got to Penn State, but it looks like Nick Scott and Garrett Taylor have the two starting spots locked up as of right now. Wade was put on the White squad on Saturday in order for him to get plenty of snaps at safety, but that doesn't mean he won't be sliding down to play as a slot corner in certain nickel packages. Pry is certainly going to want to utilize Wade's ability, but it might take some creativity.

McSorley's Heisman campaign is underway

Penn State was in a relatively new situation last season with two legitimate Heisman Trophy candidates in Saquon Barkley, who went on to finish fourth, and Trace McSorley. With Barkley headed to the NFL, McSorley has the spotlight to himself now in Happy Valley. Barkley isn't the only talented offensive weapon that is not back from last year's team, leaving McSorley to shoulder the load on offense in the fall. McSorley played a lot more than a typical third-year starting quarterback would in his last spring game, but a lot of that was due to Tommy Stevens' injury. Still, we got a glimpse of all that McSorley is going to be asked to do in the fall. And he was up to the challenge on Saturday. McSorley was as sharp as he needed to be, completing 10-of-14 passes for over 100 yards and a touchdown.

Don't expect an answer soon at linebacker

One of the biggest questions heading into the summer is at the middle linebacker spot. Jason Cabinda's departure has created a major void in the middle and it's still unclear who will replace him. Koa Farmer and Cam Brown appear to be the guys on the outside and Micah Parsons was moved outside midway through the spring. Jan Johnson started at the mike linebacker spot for the Blue squad on Saturday and looked pretty good. But the battle will continue to go on throughout the summer when Jake Cooper returns from his injury. Pry is going to continue to experiment in an attempt to find an answer at one of the most important positions on the field. The Nittany Lions will hope someone separates himself from the pack when training camp rolls around, but it's more likely that the starter won't be decided until the defense heads out onto the field against Appalachian State.

Mark Allen's impressive day

Just about every Penn State running back has been talked about this spring — except Mark Allen. Everyone is talking about Miles Sanders as the new starter, Journey Brown's potential and if Ricky Slade will play or not as a true freshman. But Allen is a nice change of pace for this offense and he showed that on Saturday. While Sanders only got three carries on the day, Allen was able to display that he could have a role in Ricky Rahne's offense. Allen ran for 30 yards on five carries, including a long run of 19 yards. Rahne debuted two running back sets with Sanders and Allen lined up on either side of McSorley. With the running ability of all three of those guys, Rahne has plenty of options in that formation and gives Allen value that not many people expected he could have.

Springing forward: Georgia football welcomes early enrollees to practice

Nine new faces joined the Georgia football team as spring football practice began March 20 for the Bulldogs.

One early enrollee, five-star running back Zamir White, suffered an ACL injury on Nov. 17. He underwent surgery, but will not be in full-contact drills with the team yet. White was seen on the first day of spring practice.

The other eight—Justin Fields, Warren Ericson, Cade Mays, Brenton Cox, Trey Hill, Kearis Jackson, Divaad Wilson and Devonte Wyatt—suited up and began practicing and competing for their positions.

 The loss of key players at the end of the 2017 season opens up spaces at different positions, offering some of the new recruits a chance to showcase their skills and compete for a starting or secondary position.

"I'm super excited about every one of those players," head coach Kirby Smart said. "There is a competition at every single position out there."

Of the nine early enrolled players, four are five-star athletes according to the 247Sports Composite. 

 The spring offers this group of newly enrolled athletes the opportunity to not only grow accustomed to college, but also to get a jump start on learning what is required of them. Junior tight end Issac Nauta said it offers them time to learn the playbook and how the game is played on the college level.

Nauta was an early enrollee himself, and said the fifteen extra practices and a G-Day game offers extra time to acclimate. Nauta said he thinks his time during spring practice factored into him playing during his freshman year.

The team's veteran players also recognize the importance of spring practices.

Senior defensive end Jonathan Ledbetter sees the talent the early enrollees are bringing to the table.

He said the spring offers them and the team a time to put the necessary pieces together as a unit.

"Those guys work hard, they have a good mentality," Nauta said. "Coming in early you are able to learn quicker from the older guys...I like the way that they work, they all got a good head on their shoulders." 

As veteran teammates, redshirt junior J.R. Reed said they each have a role to help coach and acclimate the new group of athletes to Georgia football.

The safety said he emphasizes to the new players that watching extra film and critiquing their performance every day is an important aspect.

Reed's main goal is to help mold the new players to prepare them for the 2018 football season.

In the 2017 season, Georgia went 13-1, and the team wants to see success again in 2018.

While last year's success looms over the team, Smart said this year's roster is distinctly different.

Smart's focus is on the identity this new group of athletes will create for themselves.

"Change is inevitable, but growth is optional," Smart. "That's a great mantra for this team."