Footballer Ozil donates World Cup winnings to Gaza

German footballer Mesut Ozil, who plays for Arsenal, said he is donating his World Cup earnings to the children of Gaza following his country’s triumph in the cup.

The German Football Association awarded each of the team’s players a €300,000 bonus for winning the cup, in addition to €150,000 following their semi-final win and other rewards for every game.

The star has had much coverage on social networking sites after he started the final against Argentina with a recitation of the Quran on the pitch, and concluded the game prostrating in thanks to God.

Ozil caused controversy after he declined to shake hands with a FIFA official because of his support for Israel.

Muslim Ozil is of Turkish origin.

Update July 17, 2014: International Business Times reported the midfielder’s representative Roland Eitel as saying: “The claim that Mesut donated money to Gaza is not true. Maybe in the future, who knows? He donated money to causes in Brazil and he is now on holiday.”