Bayern reject criticism of friendly in Iran

Reuters - Bayern Munich sporting director Uli Hoeness rejected criticism directed at his club on Thursday for their decision to play a friendly in Iran on Friday against Persepolis Tehran.

The Bundesliga champions scheduled the match in Tehran, a short journey from their training camp in Dubai, after a friendly against a local club in Dubai was called off because of the death of ruler Sheikh Maktoum Al-Maktoum.

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"Communication is important, not confrontation," Hoeness was quoted by German news agency SID telling reporters in Dubai in response to criticism the match could be seen as supporting Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

He has been condemned for suggesting the Holocaust never happened. The Iranian president also called in October for Israel to be "wiped off the map". Six million Jews were killed in the Nazi Holocaust.

"We're playing for the people, not for the regime," added Hoeness, whose club is training in Dubai to escape the German cold in the league's winter break. "We want to reduce this to soccer only."

A crowd of up to 100,000 could be watching on Friday. German media reports said Bayern Munich will receive a large fee for the friendly.

Some German political leaders have called for Iran to be banned from the World Cup finals.