Contra

To see that Ashkan Dejagah is a conflicted person, you need only look at the words tattooed on his arms. On the right, Berlin -- the city where he lived almost all his life. On the left, Tehran -- the city where he was born.

Dejagah's decision to boycott the German Under-21 team's upcoming match in Israel may be his attempt to align the two components of his perceived cultural identity. But it's also a political statement that flouts what should be the spirit of both of the German national team and international soccer itself.

Dejagah could have gotten out of the match in Israel without entering the spotlight. He chose not to. He wanted the public to sanction his action. And his comments concerning his decision make for unhappy reading.

"I have more Iranian than German blood in my veins," Dejagah told the tabloid BZ newspaper in a report published Tuesday. "That should be respected, and besides I'm doing this out of respect. My parents are Iranian."

Dejagah's use of the blood metaphor no doubt reflects the fact that he has spent far more of his young life honing his skills with the ball in midfield than attuning himself to the historical nuances of his words.

But why should the German soccer association, the DFB, support the idea that some sort of essential Iranian-ness entitles him to reject another culture -- Israel -- wholesale?

On the contrary, shouldn't the DFB be taking a stand for the principles of sportsmanship in international athletic competitions, which include treating opponents of all religions and ethnicities with equal respect?

Players who, for direct personal reasons, feel unable to live up to this standard against a given opponent can discreetly ask for a leave of absence. Players who feel a muddled religious animosity toward cultures with which they have little personal experience shouldn't play for national teams at all.

Calls to keep politics out of soccer are misguided. Sports are inherently political -- sometimes positively so. Teams from different cultures that compete fairly on the field demonstrate their shared values, including a mutual love of a game and a respect for one another as opponents.

Dejagah has a right to prioritize loyalty to Tehran's hatred for Israel over the spirit of the game. The DFB has both a right and a reason to prioritize that spirit over an individual player's perceived need to demonstrate cultural identity through discrimination.

The Dejagah problem itself will be gone soon. Having already reached the maximum age, the midfielder is only eligible to play for the German Under-21s for a few more months, and to become a serious candidate for the German national men's team, Dejagah would have to improve as a player.

He should also be encouraged to think more seriously about the issues he raised this week.

Along with the tattoos on his arms, Dejagah also got one on his neck, which reads: "Remember Where You From" (sic). He might do better to decide who he wants to be.

Jefferson Chase is a DW sports correspondent