BLOWING THE WHISTLE ON ANTI-SEMITISM.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007 at 01:12PM I am indebted to the ATW reader who sent me in the following story. It concerns an Iranian-born player in Germany's under-21 national soccer team who has withdrawn from an upcoming match against Israel citing "personal reasons", the German Football Association said. Ashkan Dejagah, 21, who plays for Bundesliga club VfB Wolfsburg, asked national team managers to allow him to withdraw from Germany's European Championship qualifier against Israel, to be played in Tel Aviv on Friday, the DFB said. "He came to us citing personal reasons that seemed very plausible," DFB spokesman Jens Grittner said. Dejagah could not be reached for comment, but tabloid daily Bild quoted him as saying his motive was political. "It has political reasons. Everyone knows that I am German-Iranian," he said of the decision to withdraw. Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran has refused to recognize Israel's right to exist and Iranian citizens are forbidden from travelling to Israel.
Surely this nasty little anti-Semite should be shown up for what he is, rather than indulged for his SO CALLED "plausible" reason? If he had said he wasn't going to play against a Muslim team, or of he said that he wouldn't play against a homosexual team (Chelsea, for example...joke) then I bet he would be castigated for his intolerance. But when it's Jews....
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Reader Comments (37)
Good to see the paper and government response to it though
paper 'Bild'
It will be a disgrace if the Germans ever pick him to play for them again. It looks like his main loyalty is to Iran, never mind the blatant anti-semitism.
The "talent" shows a amusing lack of wisdom & humanity. He rubbishes the "dirty Jews" to his coaches who nod sympathetically & hustle him quick as they can onto the pitch to get rubbished as an "untermensch" by Germans.
LOL David, what made you mention Chelsea as a "homosexual team"??? I know it was a joke but what was it based on?
He should be allowed to stay home on a permanent basis so he can stew in his misdirected anger.
Ben,
Just a throwaway line - based on a whim!!! I am sure that Chelsea are all rugged heterosexuals and that even if they weren't it is none of my business! Occassionaly I just like to amuse myself with some asides!!
I thought it was because they were Cunningham and Bowman's team!
'Chelsea, for example'
LOL
Hotspur trying to get stuck into some warm flesh again, I see ("sigh" Hotspur, are there no public toilets in your town?)
Some comments rather hasty here.
This player first gave as his reason his fears that his family in Iran, and especially his brother, would be subject to recriminations if he were to play in Israel. This is what the DFB meant by "plausible" personal reasons. His brother is a top player for the Teheran team (any guesses at names of the team, folks?) and he was afaid he'd be, well, booted out.
AFAIK, he didn't think of the possibility of assaulting an Israeli player during the game, which would have solved his problem and probably spared his brother.
He (Dejagah) later changed his story (several times) and the authorities lost patience with him.
But in any case, even if he were to refuse to play in Israel because he disliked that country's policy towards his co-religionists, it would not make him an anti-semite, except in the eyes of those who delight in the prospect of anti-Semitism.
This case brings up the issue of whether a national team, representing a country, has a right to refuse to play at certain venues for political reasons, and whether one player can dissent from a team decision.
I suppose the answer will depend on which country is involved. I daresay most here would fall over themselves welcoming some team's decision not to play in Cuba or Iran, and any player who refused to go there would be hailed as a hero.
IMO, all players should play in Israel and all "academic" boycotts of Israel etc. are wrong. Countries tend to be most dangerous when isolated, and one way to bring Israel to its senses, back to international law and to a humane policy vis-a-vis the Palestinians is to integrate it more closely in the world family of nations and improve contacts to the saner elements in Israeli society.
"LOL David, what made you mention Chelsea as a "homosexual team"??? I know it was a joke but what was it based on?"
Chelsea are commonly referred to as "The Rent Boys" by a lot of other teams' supporters, I think it's due to the fact that they'd happily sell their...er...grandmother to the highest bidder.
Noel: If a player on the national team refuses to play for his country for some political reason then he should be dismissed. How could a player have real concerns about his family in Iran when Arab regimes are so sane? Surely Arab tolerance will protect them.
If only you applied your standards to the Arab nations that you apply to Israel, you might have a point.
Maybe he could be punished by being made to join Chelsea.... in the showers !
He'd only love it - the queer bastard!
As they say in the school playground "Takes one to know one".
Colm,
Hotspur - or 'Big Nellie,' as I prefer to call her - is, in spite of her name, big with ARSEnal...
Oh I can see where this thread is heading, and I'm right in the thick of it :)
>>Noel: If a player on the national team refuses to play for his country for some political reason then he should be dismissed. How could a player have real concerns about his family in Iran when Arab regimes are so sane?<<
Mahons, are you blogging from your local?
I never said he shouldn't be dismissed for not playing. In fact I said he should go and play.
I also never said or implied that any Arab regime is sane or tolerant.
But as you also say that Iran is an Arab country I'll assume the above are just part of a general (drink-induced?) delusion that will pass after a good night's sleep.
'Occassionaly I just like to amuse myself with some asides!!'
Know exactly where you're coming from David. Cunningham and Bowman provide me with constant amusement.One word from me and they come running. One thinks I am a man, one thinks I'm a woman. LOL.
Here kitty, kitty....
Now - I want you all to be good or else I'll have to blow the whistle!!
Pathetic.
Can you imagine if the Jewish religion and/or the State of Israel thought that Iran or another country or people had no right to exist?
Jeremy,
Precisely the point.
Hey Sweet Thang,
Eat the bits with the fish-hooks in them...
Nellie,
'One thinks I am a man, one thinks I'm a woman. LOL.
Here kitty, kitty...'.
An eggy fart in a durex, je pense?
I rest my case.
Goodnight all.
>>Can you imagine if ... the State of Israel thought that .. another country or people had no right to exist?<<
LOL, Jeremy. IT DOES!
The valliant Hotspur once more rides off with tail firmly between legs.
I completely rest my case!
2 out of 2!
Noel
I wonder if Jeremy meant that statement ironically as you have pointed out.
Good Lord, I missed a good one! Maybe I should hire the painter............
The painter, Daphne?
Colm, according to his form, he certaintly didn't, strangely enough!
Noel
Daphne's painting the house, and consequently missing out on some good threads.
The effing painters here are complete rapists - massive huge unreasonable money to paint my house. I would rather buy shoes. So, I will be not here too much and covered in paint to boot. I am the worlds messiest painter Noel. I should do it nude, would save my clothing, which will be trashed after this project.
BTW - we all know your not gay Noel. He needs to get beyond the teenage insults, send him over to one of the threads where Frank and I go at it. That's some mature insults!
Daphne, with the thought of you painting nude I'm off to bed.
Goodnight!
Goodnight Noel! Sweet Dreams......
"a homosexual team (Chelsea, for example."
It is of course Chelsea's neighbours Fulham who are known as the Cottagers.
Nellie,
Wednesday 11.24...
As I said once before, take THY hand out of THY pocket....
BLESS....
Eh?
Nellie? You do know who you are, don't ya?