The perfect Aryan
Oct 9, 2007 Oppression, Orient
The tensions in the Middle East seem to have influenced the decision of Iranian-born German international soccer player Ashkan Dejagah’s decision not to travel with the national Under-21 squad for a match in Israel.Dejagah, who plays for Bundesliga club VfB Wolfsburg, asked his national team managers to withdraw him from Germany’s European Championship qualifier against
Israel, to be played in Tel Aviv on Friday, citing “personal reasons.”
“He came to us citing personal reasons that seemed very plausible,” DFB spokesman Jens Grittner said in a statement.
Dejagah was quoted by mass-circulation tabloid daily Bild as saying his motive was cultural.
“I have more Iranian than German blood in my veins,” he said in a report published Tuesday. “That should be respected, and besides I’m doing this out of respect. My parents are Iranian.”
Ja, the blood thing — should definitely be “respected.” With prejudice.
