Wolfsburg, Germany - German-Iranian midfielder
Ashkan Dejagah on Thursday resumed training at his Bundesliga club VfL
Wolfsburg, with coach Felix Magath saying the player could not understand
the controversy around him. "He doesn't understand the upheaval," said
Magath, who spoke of "a normal training session."
Dejagah 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 Central Council of Jews in Germany called on the ruling body DFB to kick
him out of the team while DFB boss Theo Zwanziger said he wants to meet with
Dejagah next week to discuss the issue.
Dejagah, 21, left the training ground without comment on Thursday and
Wolfsburg have made no official statement on the issue. Magath gave him the
day off Wednesday but insisted this was no suspension.
Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran has not recognized Israel's right to
exist and Iranians are not allowed to travel to Israel. Dejagah was born in
Iran and came to Germany with his parents at the age of one.
