A Chinese streaming service has lifted their Arsenal blackout but will not mention Mesut Ozil during commentary.

That isn’t even the most ridiculous thing about this Chinese Arsenal ban. PPTV even refused to list him in the starting lineup for Arsenal’s Boxing Day game against Bournemouth.

Forever 1984 out there, it seems.

China has been condemned by governments and human rights organisations around the globe because of the treatment Mesut Ozil detailed in his tweet.

Across the country, some Chinese people have been burning Mesut Ozil shirts while officials and citizens alike have been crying about ‘hurt feelings,’ eagerly encouraged by their state-run media.

After cancelling Arsenal’s match against Manchester City to show a re-run of a Tottenham game, despite Arsenal showing their deference by issuing a shameful statement distancing themselves from Ozil’s tweet, they then pushed Pro Evolution Soccer to remove him from their game in their region.

NetEase, who publish the PES franchise in China, issued an even more cowardly and shameful statement than Arsenal about Ozil’s removal from the 2020 edition.

“The German player Ozil posted an extreme statement about China on social media,” they said in a statement.

“The speech hurt the feelings of Chinese fans and violated the sports spirit of love and peace. We do not understand, accept or forgive this.”

While the world watches on and does nothing, too desperate for a share of China’s power and money to take a stand, I guess in a way, China are right.

For most of us, this atrocity isn’t taking place.