Arsenal chief denies club took commercial decision over Özil’s comment on China

Arsenal chief executive Vinai Venkatesham has denied the club took a commercial decision to stand back from Mesut Ozil’s comments on the treatment of Uighur Muslims in China.

In December 2019, former Arsenal player Ozil, who is Muslim, called the Uighurs “warriors who resist persecution”.

Arsenal distanced themselves from the comments at the time, saying they were “apolitical as an organisation”.

“I don’t think it’s fair to say we took a commercial view. I know it is how it has been reported but I don’t think it is fair to say it.” said Venkatesham.

Although Ozil did play for the club again, the episode appeared to damage his standing at the club and he spent a long period on the sidelines before joining Turkish club Fenerbahce on a free transfer in January.

Speaking during a session on diversity at the FT Business of Football summit on Thursday, Venkatesham was challenged on how the club appeared to stand back from Ozil, which many felt was down to the club and the Premier League’s commercial interests in China.

“We were asked for comment around the situation, predominantly we were asked for a comment in China but it was generally our position that it was a statement the player made in an individual capacity.

“There wasn’t a commercial driver behind that, it was simply being clear it wasn’t Mesut making a club statement, it was him making one in an individual capacity, as is his right.”

BBC