By Simon Cambers Jun 7, 2006, 21:10 GMT
Friedrichshafen, Germany - Iranian midfielder Mehdi Mahkavikia said on Wednesday that it would be a 'great honour' if the country's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came to Germany to watch the team play at the World Cup.
Mahdavikia made his comments at a press conference after a training session on Wednesday.
Ahmadinejad, who has sparked controversy with comments denying the Holocaust and Israel's right to exist, said he would come watch his team if they qualified for the second round, sparking calls for his visit to be denied in Germany.
Police are concerned by threats from neo-Nazi groups in Germany to hold rallies in support of the Ahmadinejad's policies.
But Iran's presence in Friedrichshafen has so far passed without any sign of trouble, with the local population welcoming the squad to their town on Lake Constance.
Mahdavikia said the arrival of Ahmadinejad would be welcomed.
'I think it would be a great honour,' he said.
Iran's coach Branko Ivankovic said the arrival of the president would be nothing out of the ordinary.
'If we qualify for the second stage I think it would be normal for somebody to come and watch us play the second stage,' he said.
'It's normal, it's like (Jacques) Chirac coming out (to watch France).'
The German government said that Iranian Vice President Mohammad Aliabadi is due to attend the opening match, between Germany and Costa Rica in Munich on Friday.
Ivankovic said the players were still managing to keep their minds focused on their job at the World Cup and not letting political arguments get in the way.
'We don't feel any pressure from the government or anybody about results,' he said.
'They (the Iranian people) just want the players to put their hearts on the field, to be really honest, to make them proud of the team and to make one good example for the young people in Iran.'
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