Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil avoided any talk of the controversy surrounding his retirement from international football as the German midfielder opted to focus on the club’s pre-season friendly tournament in Singapore on Wednesday.
The 29-year-old quit the national side on Sunday citing “racism and disrespect” due to his Turkish roots as key to the decision after he was singled out for criticism when Germany bombed out of the recent World Cup in the group stages.
Making his first public appearance since his retirement statement triggered a bad-tempered debate in Germany about relations with its largest immigrant community, Ozil was all smiles at a fan event in Singapore.
“It’s very exciting to be in Singapore. It’s our second time here and we really enjoy coming,” he told a gathering of Arsenal fans a day ahead of a friendly against Atletico Madrid at the National Stadium. They also play Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday.
“We are expecting good matches against PSG and Atletico Madrid. They are great teams with great players, it’s a test for us to get ready for the new season, so it’s something to look forward to.”
Ozil was also criticized for meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in May, where the pair were photographed holding up an Arsenal shirt, and he has yet to comment on his retirement since he announced it through social media.
Arsenal forward Reiss Nelson and midfielder Alex Iwobi sat alongside Ozil at the fan event in Singapore with the former admitting new coach Unai Emery had been very active in his first few training sessions with the club.
“Training has been good and Emery has been a major influence to what we are doing on the training ground,” the 18-year-old England youth international said.
“He’s looking to bring through the young players as well... pushing them, so they will have a feeling they can shine under the new coach.”
Spaniard Emery, who has also managed Valencia, Sevilla and PSG, was brought in to replace Arsene Wenger after the Frenchman ended his almost 22-year tenure at the helm of the North London club at the conclusion of last season.
Arsenal open the new Premier League campaign with a home fixture against champions Manchester City on Aug. 12.
Mesut Ozil avoids talk of Germany retirement on Arsenal’s pre-season tour
Mesut Ozil avoids talk of Germany retirement on Arsenal’s pre-season tour
- Midfield star quit international football after being on the end of a barrage of criticism.
- He hit out at the German FA over perceived racist criticism.
Riyadh Marathon witnesses world champs, strong community participation
- Health minister says race supports initiative to improve health, quality of life
RIYADH: The Riyadh Marathon 2026 concluded on Saturday after four days of elite competition and community-focused activities, marking a successful fifth edition supported by partners and sponsors.
The marathon festival was held at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University from Jan. 28-31, combining world-class athletic competition with a wide-ranging entertainment and cultural experience.
A strong lineup of international elite runners competed in the event, according to the Saudi Press Agency. Among the leading women athletes were Ethiopian world champion Gotytom Gebreslase and fellow Ethiopian Gulume Chala, alongside Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich and Nguriatukei Rael Kinyara.
The men’s field featured Moroccan runner Othmane El-Goumri, Bahraini athlete Oluwakemi Adekoya and several world half-marathon champions.
The Riyadh Marathon retained its World Athletics Elite Road Race accreditation for the fifth consecutive year and welcomed runners from 125 countries, as well as local clubs and participants of all ages and fitness levels.
Saudi Minister of Health Fahad AlJalajel took part in the marathon and shared a message on his official X account,@FahadAlJalajel, saying he was pleased to take part in the event, which reflected the concept of “Sport for All” and supported the Live Healthy national initiative to improve health and quality of life.
He thanked Prince Khaled bin Al-Waleed bin Talal for backing the initiative and stressed that encouraging movement as a daily lifestyle was essential to improving public health and quality of life, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
Organized by the Saudi Sports for All Federation, the marathon was delivered in strategic partnership with several government entities, including Vision 2030, the Ministry of Sport, the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, the Saudi Athletics Federation, the National Events Center and the Riyadh Municipality, reflecting strong institutional coordination.
The 5 km and 10 km races were held within the university campus, while the 21 km half-marathon and 42 km full-marathon routes extended beyond the campus through major roads in northern Riyadh, with all races finishing inside the university.
In addition to the races, the festival featured a diverse program of live music, performances, cultural and heritage activities, and interactive experiences for all age groups, hosted in the race village and assembly areas.
The event concluded on Saturday with competitions across four main categories: the full marathon 42 km, half marathon 21 km, 10 km race, and the 5 km race dedicated to families and beginners, reinforcing the Riyadh Marathon’s position as one of Saudi Arabia’s leading community sporting events.
