Friday, August 27, 2021 at 8:05 PM• Dominic Mostert • Last update: 20:25

It remains to be seen whether Feyenoord can have Alireza Jahanbakhsh in the Conference League games against Maccabi Haifa. The attacker from Iran was already unable to participate in AZ’s two matches against Maccabi Tel Aviv in the group stage of the Europa League in 2016. Iran does not recognize Israel and forbids its athletes to compete against athletes from Israel.

The Telegraph recalls Friday evening that in 2016 AZ decided to keep Jahanbakhsh from the selection for both meetings with Maccabi Tel Aviv. After all, there was a real danger that Jahanbakhsh could never play for the national team in his country again. An Israel stamp in his passport could cause problems if the right winger wants to enter his home country of Iran.

Five years ago, AZ held extensive consultations with the player’s management about the situation. Director Max Huiberts then spoke of a ‘difficult situation’. “We know the sensitivities between the two countries, and the risk Alireza runs that he might not play for his national team in the future, that’s something we don’t want,” he said.

Jahanbakhsh has already scored three goals in the Conference League preliminaries. On Thursday it became clear that Feyenoord has few replacements for the winger. He retired in the final phase against IF Elfsborg (3-1) and was replaced by debutant Mimeirhel Benita. “When I looked next to me on the bench, I only saw one real winger. That was Mimi, as he is called. Then it makes sense that you bring him in,” said trainer Arne Slot.