ARSENAL’S clash with Manchester City will not be played live on Chinese TV after Mesut Ozil’s comments about minority Muslims being targeted in the country.
The club distanced themselves from the German’s social media blast about China’s persecution of the Uighur population.
Arsenal have distanced themselves from comments Mesut Ozil made on social media
But despite their move to appease the Asian country, today’s late afternoon kick-off will be replaced with a pre-recorded showing of Tottenham taking on Wolves.
Bloomberg reports that the state-owned CCTV channel has opted to fill the slot with rivals Spurs, who kick off at 2pm.
The NBA has recently fallen foul of China’s clampdown on negative press after Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey voiced his support of protesters in Hong Kong.
League chiefs were criticised Stateside for their response as they buckled under Chinese pressure to condemn the remarks.
Ozil took to Instagram to speak out against the ongoing situation in north west Xianjiang and also criticised fellow Muslims for not speaking out against the issue.
The Gunners have several commercial interests in China – including a chain of restaurants – and have moved to protect any damage to those relationships.
A statement released on Chinese social media site Weibo read: “Regarding the comments made by Mesut Ozil on social media, Arsenal must make a clear statement.
“The content published is Ozil’s personal opinion.
“As a football club, Arsenal has always adhered to the principle of not involving itself in politics.”
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Arsenal’s move has surprised some after they remained silent when Hector Bellerin ended a political Twitter post with “#F***Boris” ahead of Thursday’s general election.
Former Chelsea star Demba Ba hit out at the Gunners, tweeting: “Not surprised.@Arsenal just keep distancing themselves from the best in general”.
The Uighur’s have been subject to a campaign of religious and ethnic persecution by the Chinese authorities with approximately one million said to have been held in detention camps in recent years.
And in the statement posted on his Instagram, Ozil’s message called on other Muslims to speak out too.
He wrote: “East Turkistan, the bleeding wound of the Ummah, resisting against the persecutors trying to separate them from their religion.
“They burn their Qurans. They shut down their mosques. They ban their schools. They kill their holy men.
“The men are forced into camps and their families are forced to live with Chinese men. The women are forced to marry Chinese men.
“But Muslims are silent. They won’t make a noise. They have abandoned them. Don’t they know that giving consent for persecution is persecution itself?”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
