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The shock of the Arsenal-Manchester City championship (0-3) was not broadcast in China. The channel CCTV deprogramed it because of the public support displayed by the German Mesut Özil, player of Arsenal, in favor of the Uighurs of Xinjiang. A position that embarrasses the Gunners and the Premier League.
Although Arsenal are no longer among the favorites for the coronation in England (the last title dates back to 2004 and the last podium in 2016), a poster between the Londoners and Manchester City remains attractive. It was also the main match of the 17th day of the Premier League played this weekend. However, at the kick-off of the meeting at the end of the afternoon Sunday December 15, no Gunners and Cityzens on the screens in China.
The decision fell early in the afternoon: CCTV, the Chinese state television, has scheduled the meeting of its antenna. Instead, viewers were treated to a delayed broadcast of the Tottenham-Wolverhampton game.
China does not digest these accusations
China has very little appreciated a particular publication seen on social networks. This publication is signed Mesut Özil. The German attacking midfielder, of Turkish origin, spoke on a sensitive subject in Beijing: the repression of China against the Uyghurs , a Muslim minority in Xinjiang.
In a message written in Turkish and posted on Instagram and Twitter on December 13, the Arsenal player, who is of Muslim faith, denounces: " Korans are burned ... mosques destroyed ... Islamic schools banned. .. religious intellectuals killed one after the other ... Brothers sent by force to camps. Muslims remain silent. We can't hear their voices. "
# HayırlıCumalarDoğuTürkistan 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/dJgeK4KSIk
Mesut Özil (@ MesutOzil1088) December 13, 2019The said message shows in the background the flag of East Turkestan, adopted by the Uyghur separatists. With these words, Mesut Özil angered Beijing. The Chinese daily newspaper Global Times writes that "Chinese internet users and football fans are angry and disappointed by Mesut Ôzil ", considers the accusations to be " false " and recalls that China has historically never spoken of East Turkestan, but of Xinjiang. Özil's position has been among the most discussed topics over the past two days on the Chinese social network Sina Weibo. A boycott campaign of the 2014 world champion has even started.
China, an essential market
It is precisely on Sina Weibo that Arsenal exceptionally left its reserve on Saturday, December 14. The club published a press release recalling that the message which put the lightning at the powder powders " is the personal opinion of Özil " and that " as a football club, Arsenal always adhered to the principle of not getting involved in politics ”.
China's annoyance is a headache for Arsenal as for the Premier League. The Asian continent and the country represent a very juicy market for the development and the economic health of the Gunners and the most followed and most lucrative championship of the world. In 2014, Arsenal even entered into a partnership with the Huawei company , which was then fully expanding on the smartphone market.
In October, it was another sensitive subject that had sown confusion between China and the NBA, the powerful North American basketball championship. The support of the Houston Rockets general manager for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong had been the source of diplomatic tensions. Several Chinese sponsors have since suspended their contributions. Chinese TV has started boycotting NBA games. A boycott still relevant since NBA leaders refuse to apologize. However, the financial consequences are " quite dramatic " by the admission of NBA President Adam Silver in mid-October. In sport-business, it is not good to offend China.
Özil has already cringe in Germany
From a purely sporting point of view, Chinese viewers did not see Manchester City crush Arsenal outside, at the Emirates Stadium (3-0). Mesut Özil, on the other hand, only played 59 minutes before being taken off the field by coach Fredrik Ljungberg. Whistled by a part of the public dissatisfied with its performance without relief, the German left the lawn irritated.
Mesut Özil did not discuss the situation of Uighurs in China again. It is not, however, the first time that it has found itself in the midst of a geopolitical controversy. In May 2018, he and his compatriot Ilkay Gündogan, also of Turkish origin, posed for a photo with the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. A cliché they have been accused of due to the tensions between several European leaders, including Chancellor Angela Merkel, and the Turkish Head of State on various subjects such as the situation in Syria or the migration crisis.
A few weeks later, Mesut Özil had decided to retire internationally , denouncing in passing attacks against him which were linked to racism against his Turkish origins. The debate had stirred Germany . Today is another topic that blurs the line between the Premier League and China.