Ozil had added to condemnation of the detention of more than 1 million Uighurs and other minorities in so-called re-education camps in China's northwestern region of Xinjiang,
on Friday denounced China for burning Korans, closing mosques and the killing of religious scholars. The Arsenal player complained that "Muslims stay quiet".
Ozil started Sunday's game that was due to be broadcast live by the sports channel of Chinese state television before being cancelled, according to the channel's schedule app and social media account. It was due to be replaced with a recording of Tottenham's 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton from earlier Sunday. A feed of Arsenal's match also was cancelled by streaming service PPTV.com.
In 2018, Ozil quit Germany's national team following criticism over his decision to pose for a picture with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. A statement from the league's organising body said it agreed with referee Jose Antonio Lopez Toca's decision to abandon the match, which it said was taken at the request of both teams, due to "grave insults and threats" made towards Zozulya.
The stadium announcer asked for the Rayo supporters singing about Zozulya to stop but they did not and the match was suspended at half-time.
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