‘Treat everyone equally’: Ozil accuses FIFA of double standards over Russia and Israel

Mesut Ozil has accused FIFA of applying double standards, arguing that Russian teams remain suspended while Israeli sides continue to compete internationally. The former Germany midfielder made the remarks after a veterans’ friendly in Istanbul earlier this week.

The 2014 World Cup winner spoke after Istanbul Basaksehir beat Zenit St Petersburg 3-2 in a match staged alongside an economic forum. Ozil, 38, ended his playing career at Basaksehir and used the occasion to address how football’s governing bodies treat teams during international conflicts.

“Football has always brought peace. As long as we don’t focus on race or religion, the world of sport has always brought people together,” Ozil said, before turning to the governing body directly and pointing to what he sees as an inconsistency in its decisions.

“FIFA has not imposed any sanctions on Israeli teams, but it has done so against Russian teams,” he said. His appeal followed: “Hopefully, they will stop applying double standards and treat everyone equally.” He also thanked the organisers for bringing Turkish and Russian veterans together.

FIFA and UEFA suspended Russian national teams and clubs in February 2022, after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The ban remains in place for senior sides, although limited participation by some youth teams has been allowed in recent years.

Israeli teams, by contrast, have continued to take part in international competitions. That has drawn widespread criticism, given the war in Gaza that began after the events of October 7, and it forms the backdrop to Ozil’s comparison.

Basaksehir president Goksel Gumusdag backed the criticism. He argued that isolating Russian teams while applying no comparable measures to Israel amounted to clear double standards, and he urged FIFA and UEFA to adopt a fairer stance.

Ozil has a record of speaking on political issues, including public support for the Palestinian cause. One report also says he was elected to the executive board of Turkey’s ruling AKP last year, though that is not confirmed in the other coverage.

Reports additionally link both clubs to political figures, with Zenit said to enjoy the backing of Vladimir Putin and Basaksehir seen as close to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Neither club has commented on those claims in the coverage reviewed.