Berlin - The Central Council of Jews in Germany on Friday for the first time showed some understanding for under-fire footballer Ashkan Dejagah. The VfL Wolfsburg player, who is a German-Iranian, caused a stir when it was announced Monday he will not play in Germany's under-21 national team in Israel on Friday for personal reasons.
News reports quoted him as saying that he was staying away for political reasons.
The general secretary of the Central Council of Jews Stephan J Kramer said in an article to be published Saturday in Tagesspiegel that he could understand it if his reasons for not playing in Israel were personal.
After all, his relatives in Iran could face repercussions if he played in the match against Israel, Kramer said. He added that if the reasons were political, he should be thrown out of the national team.
Iran does not recognise Israel and prohibits its nationals from travelling to the country.
However, Kramer criticised the German football association (DFB). "The association should have acted more intelligently and given the player better guidance. It should not happen that one lets a 21-year- old walk into such a difficult situation."
The DFB president, Theo Zwanziger, who has travelled to Israel for the match said that he would be talking to Dejagah next week.
