Entertainment

Ozil marries in Istanbul, with Turkish president as best man

Published

5 years ago

June 7, 2019

Former German international football Mesut Ozil was married in Istanbul on Friday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as his best man .

The 30 – year – old Ozil , who has Turkish family roots , sparked controversy last year when he was photographed with Erdogan, raising questions about the footballer ’ s loyalty to Germany on the eve of their disastrous 2018 World Cup campaign .
The Turkish leader arrived in the early evening for Friday ’ s ceremony at a luxury hotel on the banks of the Bosphorus to see the former Arsenal midfielder marry his fiancee , former Miss Turkey Amine Gulse.
A smiling Erdogan and his wife Emine were seen standing next to the young couple as their marriage was formalised.

After 92 appearances for Germany , including a key role in the 2014 World Cup victory, Ozil suddenly quit the national squad last July, accusing German football officials of racism .

Ozil announced in March that he had asked Erdogan to be his best man .
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’ s chief of staff was part of a chorus of criticism of the invitation.

Helge Braun , a CDU told the Bild newspaper then that it “ makes one sad ” that Ozil would make a such a move despite having already been sharply criticised by the German public over his first meeting with Erdogan.

A handout photo released by the Turkish president ’ s press office shows Arsenal’ s German midfielder Mesut Ozil ( 3 rd L ) and his fiance Amine Gulse ( 2 nd L ) standing next to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ( 2 nd R ) and his wife Emine during their wedding ceremony at the Four Seasons Bosphorus Hotel in Istanbul , Turkey , on June 7 , 2019 . ( Photo by – / TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE / AFP ) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “ AFP PHOTO / HO / TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE ” – Ozil has dated Gulse since 2017 and the couple announced their engagement in June 2018 .

The footballer , a third – generation German , whipped up a political storm when he was pictured alongside Erdogan last May .
Criticism intensified after the red – faced defending champions crashed out of the first round of the World Cup in Russia .
In the wake of the World Cup fiasco, Ozil announced his resignation from the national squad , saying : “ I am German when we win, an immigrant when we lose ” .
Erdogan often attends marriages in Turkey of celebrities , whom he particularly seeks out during election campaigns .

A special forces police officer stands on top of the roof of the Four Seasons Bosphorus Hotel in Istanbul , Turkey , on June 7 , 2019 , during the wedding ceremony of Arsenal’ s German midfielder Mesut Ozil and his fiancee Amine Gulse, attended by the Turkish president. ( Photo by Yasin AKGUL / AFP )

His presence at Ozil ’ s marriage comes ahead of a mayoral election in Istanbul on June 23 , required after the original voting in March was annulled following a narrow victory for the main opposition Republican People ’ s Party .
AFP.