October 19, 2007

TEHRAN (AFP) – Iran on Friday said that it supported the move by the Iranian-born footballer Ashkan Dejagah to refuse to play against Israel for political reasons, the official IRNA news agency reported.

"Ashkan Dejagah belongs to Iran. Dejageh by refusing to go to Israel proved that he loves Iran and is attached to his country," Iranian vice-president and the head of Iran Physical Education, Mohammad Aliabadi, who is responsible for the nation's sport, was quoted as saying.

"We are interested in that he plays for Iran (national team)," he added.

Less than two weeks ago, Dejageh started a row and outcry in Germany for refusing to play in Tel Aviv putting his future in jeopardy.

German football's top official said he would make it clear to Dejagah that he had responsibilities if he wanted to continue to play for Germany.

Dejagah, 21, pulled out of an Under-21 match to be played in Tel Aviv on Friday, saying he feared for the safety of relatives in Iran if he played in Israel.

The German Football Federation has said it accepted his "personal reasons" for not making the trip, but the federation's president Theo Zwanziger adopted a harder line, saying he would try to persuade Dejagah to decide whether he could fulfill his obligations as a player for Germany.

The VfL Wolfsburg player was born in Iran and moved to Germany with his parents. He has both German and Iranian passports.

Although he has already represented Germany at Under-21 level, Dejagah still has the right to switch allegiance and play for Iran at senior level.

The Central Council of Jews in Germany has called for Dejagah to be banned from playing for the country.

Iran does not recognise Israel's right to exist and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called for the country to be wiped off the map.

After the 1979 Islamic revolution, Iranian players competing in international tournaments have declined to play against rivals from Israel even losing gold medals, but the authorities in Iran have rewarded the players later.