'Racism' too much for Ozil

BERLIN - Mesut Ozil announced on Sunday he was quitting the Germany team, citing "racism" in the criticism directed at him after the country's World Cup debacle.

Ozil, who is third generation Turkish-German and a practicing Muslim, had been under fire since posing for a controversial photograph with Turkey President Recep Erdogan in May, which sparked questions about his loyalty to Germany ahead of the tournament in Russia.

In a four-page statement posted on Twitter and Instagram, an angry Ozil saved his bombshell for the final salvo.