Iran demands apology from German daily for insulting football cartoon

In a statement addressed to chief editor of the daily Der Tagesspiegel, the embassy demanded a "written apology and measures aimed at rectifying this immoral act".

The communiqué added the offensive caricature had caused "outrage among the Iranian people".

The embassy stressed that sports was a tool "to promote solidarity and understanding among people and should not be used for political and other irresponsible means".

The controversial cartoon which was printed in the paper on Friday, shows the Iranian national football standing in a World Cup stadium with bombs strapped to their jerseys.

The cartoon depicts also German soldiers lining up in the stadium with a caption saying, 'This is why the German army has to be deployed at the World Cup stadiums!'.

The graphic artist of the insulting cartoon, Klaus Stuttmann had already voiced his regret to the Iranian nation over the weekend.