Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad could still decide to visit Germany during the upcoming World Cup to support his country’s team. But German politicians are divided as to whether the controversial leader should be allowed to attend the sporting event.

The World Cup will take place in Germany from 9 June 9 to 9 July.

Iran kick off their FIFA World Cup campaign against Mexico in Nuremberg on 11 June with further group games against Portugal and Angola.

The German government has been one of the biggest critics of President Ahmadinedjad’s anti-Israel and Holocaust denial rhetoric.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been leading the European Union campaign to censure Ahmadinedjad – so far to no avail. Despite Germany’s official stance, Wolfgang Schaeuble, Germany’s Christian Democratic interior minister told the press that the government would not block a visit by Ahmadinedjad.

“As far as I am concerned, he is welcome to come to the World Cup. We have every intention of being good hosts,” Schaeuble said.

Schaeuble made his comments at a conference last week in southern Germany on the role of football during the Nazi era.

However, he conceded that it would not be an easy visit if the Iranian president were to come.

Bavaria’s interior minister countered his political ally on the federal level by saying that he could not imagine allowing the president to come into the country. “The easiest way to deal with this issue is by simply not allowing him to enter the country,” he told reporters at a Christian Social Union board meeting. He did say, however, that this decision would have to be made at the federal level.

The Christian Social Union is the sister party of the Christian Democrats.

Keen supporter

Speculation surrounding Ahmadinedjad’s visit was aroused by the president of the Iranian Football Federation, Ali Dadkan. Dadkan suggested that President Ahmadinedjad should go to Germany to show support for his team which will play against Mexico on 11 June in Nuremberg.

During a recent visit to Germany, Dadkan told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper (FAZ), "our president loves football and likes to regularly meet with the players."

FAZ reports that the president’s visit could pose the greatest security challenge during the month-long event. Iranian opposition groups have a strong backing in Germany and there is every reason to believe that mass protests would be organised.

Iranian dissidents are often seen on the streets of German cities petitioning passers-by to finance their protests against Iranian human rights abuses.

Delicate situation

How to deal with the president’s visit on a protocol level would also pose a major challenge. By receiving Ahmadinedjad, Germany would have to find a way to continue censuring Iran’s anti-Israel, Holocaust denial and atomic energy stance without breaking protocol.

Germany is walking a tightrope in its relationship to Iran. Trade between the two countries is robust and any disruption could have a negative impact on Germany’s already weak economy. Furthermore, Germany is, like most of its European neighbours, highly dependent on Iranian oil to meet its energy needs.

According to the FAZ, Schaeuble would use a visit by Iran’s president to confront the “unacceptable” issues. “I will certainly talk to him about his past comments,” he said.

Government spokesman Thomas Steg said that he will not allow too much speculation to be made “as long as we do not know what will really happen”.

Jewish comment

The Central Council of Jews in Germany has not yet commented on the possibility of such a visit.

However, Gideon Joffe, chairman of Berlin’s Jewish community, took the position that most Jews in Germany seem to have taken. "Until Iran’s government stops denying the Holocaust, as long as it supports Hamas, and as long as it refuses to cooperate with the international atomic energy agency, then their president should not be allowed to enter Germany," he stressed during Tuesday's Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) commemoration in the German capital.