According to a report by Anadolu Agency on Friday October 23, 2026, former Germany international Mesut Özil has accused the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) of applying double standards in its treatment of Russia and Israel, calling on the world football governing body to treat both countries equally.

Özil made the remarks on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, during a veterans' friendly match between Turkish club Istanbul Başakşehir and Russian side Zenit St Petersburg in Istanbul. Başakşehir won the encounter 3-2.

The 2014 FIFA World Cup winner said football had historically brought people together regardless of their racial, religious or national backgrounds. He argued that the sport should continue to promote peace and unity rather than deepen divisions.

However, Özil questioned FIFA's decision to suspend Russian teams from international competitions while Israeli teams have not faced comparable restrictions.

"FIFA did not impose sanctions on Israeli teams, but it did on Russian teams. I want to appeal to FIFA: I hope they will put these double standards aside and treat everyone equally," Özil said in remarks reported by Istanbul Başakşehir.

His comments come as Russian national teams and clubs remain excluded from FIFA and Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) competitions following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The two governing bodies announced the suspensions that month.

The former Arsenal and Real Madrid midfielder retired from professional football in 2023, with Istanbul Başakşehir among the final clubs of his career.

Özil's intervention has renewed debate over the consistency of international sporting sanctions and whether football's governing institutions apply the same standards to countries involved in different geopolitical conflicts.

His appeal adds to calls from figures associated with Russian football for the country's teams to be readmitted to international competition, although no reversal of the existing suspensions was announced alongside his remarks.