Ozil says will no longer play internationally for Germany

Berlin:  German soccer star Mesut Ozil, who has drawn widespread criticism for having his photograph taken with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, said on Sunday he would no longer play internationally for Germany.

"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," Ozil said in a statement posted on his Twitter account.