Mesut Ozil banned from Werder Bremen over far-right links

Mesut Ozil, the former Arsenal and Real Madrid midfielder, has been banned from attending a tribute event at Werder Bremen due to his political affiliations and a controversial tattoo. The tattoo, featuring a grey wolf and three crescent moons, is associated with the Grey Wolves, a far-right extremist group linked to anti-Semitism and ultra-nationalism. A Werder Bremen spokesperson stated that Ozil's recent actions do not align with the club's values, resulting in his exclusion from a celebration for former player Diego Ribas. Despite a decorated playing career, Ozil has faced scrutiny since his retirement, especially following his appointment to the board of Turkey's ruling AKP party, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was also his wedding's best man. The Grey Wolves are banned in several countries due to their extremist activities, raising concerns about Ozil's affiliations. His representatives have not commented on whether the tattoo directly references the group.