.png)
Featured Image Credit: Image: Twitter/@Cartolouco
Topics: Germany, Mesut Ozil, Football World Cup, Japan, Spain
Josh Lawless
Topics: Germany, Mesut Ozil, Football World Cup, Japan, Spain
A Germany fan was caught on camera racially abusing locals after the four-time winners were dumped out of the World Cup at the group stage yet again.
After going all the way in Brazil in 2014, Germany did not make it out of the group four years later, finishing at the very bottom of Group C.
In Qatar, they went out on goal difference despite a 4-2 comeback win over Costa Rica in their final fixture - with Japan progressing courtesy of a controversial winning goal against Spain where the ball looked out of play.
Two-goal star Kai Havertz's face was of pure misery when he collected his Player of the Match award but the reaction from a section fans in the stadium was one of anger.
A video doing the rounds on social media shows locals holding up posters of former Germany international Mesut Ozil.
Advert
In 2018, Ozil, who has Turkish roots, announced his retirement from international football and cited "racism and "disrespect" as the reason.
He claimed he was the subject of unfair discrimination over his controversial meeting with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The posters, coupled with a bit of taunting from the fans, riled up German supporters who were exiting the Al Bayt Stadium.
Advert
One, dressed in German attire, could be heard shouting "F*** you Taliban!" and flipping the bird as he walked out - even leaping at another individual at one point.
Another tried to hit the fans with his flag, with a furious supporter also confronting the Ozil lovers and attempting to rip a poster as tensions boiled over.
On Qatar TV, several guests mocked Germany's elimination by covering their mouths and waving goodbye.
For their Group E opener against Japan, the Germany starting XI protest against FIFA's ban of the OneLove armband by covering their mouths as they lined up for the official team photo.
Advert
Meanwhile, Japan fans have been the stars of the show so far in the first ever Winter World Cup. The Samurai Blue's supporters have a tradition of cleaning up the stadium after their games and did it yet again following the historic win over Spain, which saw them top the group.
They carry plastic bags and place the rubbish and litter left inside it, leaving the area exactly how they left it.
“Our heart is clean, so the stands must be clean," one fan explained to Al Jazeera.
"This means the team reaches its destiny."