150 people held a demonstration against the ‘racist’ treatment of Mesut Özil by the German media and the DFB, after the player spoke out over it in an Instagram statement recently.

Supporters of the German international demonstrated in front of the Axel Springer skyscraper in Berlin, under the motto “I am Özil”. They protested against what they consider to be unfair media coverage of the player, and waved Turkish flags alongside German ones.

Ozil Axel Stringer
Getty Images / People gathered outside Axel Stringer publishing house to protest media treatment of Özil

Meanwhile, Vodafone have pulled out of an advertising campaign with the player. After the pictures of Özil and Erdogan emerged, they scrapped their first advertising clips, but now they’ve ended the campaign with the German entirely.

Adidas, on the other hand, are standing by the 29-year-old. They released a statement to express their regret that Özil would no longer be able to play for the German national team, but confirmed “he remains a member of the Adidas family”. The playmaker has worn Adidas boots since 2013, and has a contact with them until 2020.

It’s good to see Özil still has his supporters. Hopefully he uses those who have let him down as motivation to put in more performances like Saturday’s impressive showing against PSG.