Controversial Dejagah resumes training in Wolfsburg

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.