Germany needs to host Euro 2024 ‘to show the world’ unity after Mesut Özil racism row, says Oliver Bierhoff

The national team's general manager believes hosting the tournament would help his country project a more positive image

Germany legend Oliver Bierhoff says that the country “needs” to host the 2024 European Championship in order “to show the world” that the country is unified and a positive example of integration in the wake of the Mesut Özil racism row.

Özil stunningly quit the national team in the wake of their shock first-round exit at last summer’s World Cup and a controversial photo with Turkish president Recep Erdogan, claiming he had been made a scapegoat for the team's failure and accusing the national federation of “racism and disrespect”.

The controversy coincidentally and pointedly comes as Germany’s sole opponent for the 2024 bid is the country of Özil’s descent, Turkey.

Questions about the issue overshadowed much of the launch of the Germany 2024 bid in Munich ahead of their opening Uefa Nations League game against France.

Germany general manager and Euro 96 hero Bierhoff was one of those talking as part of the presentation, and said that the affair is precisely why the country could do with hosting an international tournament for the first time since 2006.

“That’s the reason why we have to get the European Championship in 2024, to show the world that this country is different,” Bierhoff said. “Of course you never get everything the right way, but the majority of people in Germany are different. We have to show this.

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“If you follow the political situation not only in Germany but Europe, refugees and immigration… also people are a little bit afraid. Perhaps they don’t get the answers from big institutions, from politics.

“Hopefully we as a team can show our values, show sport is a good tool to also work against racism.”

Bierhoff again strongly denied there is an issue with racism in the German federation and national team, but admitted they had “made mistakes” in the handling of the Özil issue.

“Well, we have to deny very strong… Of course we made some mistakes, we undervalued the situation,” he added.

“After the photo [with Erdogan], coming back to sports, we did some mistakes, but we deny [the accusation] that Germany or our federation has done nothing against racism. I got criticised at the beginning that I stood before him, I protected him. So after [the incident] you think, how could I do a bit better.

“We tried to talk to him, we didn’t get an answer, so I don’t know what is going on in his mind.”