Turkey's Erdogan witness in footballer Mesut Ozil's wedding

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks to Turkish-German soccer player Mesut Ozil and his wife Amine Gulse during a wedding ceremony over the Bosporus in Istanbul, Friday, June 7, 2019. Erdogan's wife Emine Erdogan is at right. (Presidential Press Service via AP, Pool)

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was in the wedding party as Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil tied the knot on Friday.

State-run Anadolu news agency said Erdogan and his wife, Emine, were legal witnesses for Ozil, who married model, actress and former Miss Turkey Amine Gulse in Istanbul. Secular Turkish weddings require a witness each for the bride and groom.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks to Turkish-German soccer star Mesut Ozil and his wife Amine Gulse during a wedding ceremony over the Bosporus in Istanbul, Friday, June 7, 2019. Erdogan's wife Emine Erdogan is at right and Istanbul Governor and temporary mayor Ali Yerlikaya, left.(Presidential Press Service via AP, Pool)

Ozil, a German player of Turkish descent, quit Germany's soccer team last year after he was criticized for posing for a photograph with Erdogan before the World Cup.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, center right, Turkish-German soccer player Mesut Ozil, centre, his wife Amine Gulse, center left, Erdogan's wife Emine Erdogan pose for a photo with family members of newly wed couple during a wedding ceremony over the Bosporus in Istanbul, Friday, June 7, 2019.(Presidential Press Service via AP, Pool)

In his international retirement announcement, Ozil accused the German football federation, its president, fans, and media for what he saw as racism in how it treated people with Turkish roots. Erdogan supported Ozil, saying his treatment was unacceptable after a stellar career for Germany.