Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge claims that Mesut Özil's calls of racism following his retirement from the Germany national team were "partially fairytales" that were made up by his representatives.
The 62-year-old has said that he is annoyed about the media storm surrounding Özil following the World Cup, although he did admit that the German Football Association (DFB) were lacking in their management of their crisis this summer.
"I think the whole discussion about Mesut Özil is a phantom debate," Rummenigge told TZ. "It has nothing to do with racism. In my view, there is no greater integration factor than football.