The chancellor's office and the German football federation are trying to iron out a flap over Chancellor Angela Merkel visiting the Germany dressing room and congratulating half naked players after their 3-0 win over Turkey.
A photograph showing Merkel with Mesut Oezil, a German player of Turkish background, upset German federation president Theo Zwanziger - apparently because he was not taken along for the occasion in Berlin on Oct. 8. He complained to various media that football was being used by the politicians.
Merkel called Zwanziger the day after the publication of the photographs, and he later said their talk removed the ''irritations.''
While the federation called Merkel's call an ''apology,'' her office said on Wednesday it was a ''clarifying conversation'' and that no apology was needed.
Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert said it was ''unfortunate'' that Zwanziger had not been present in the dressing room, but insisted that he and the chancellor had ironed things out.
''The chancellor held a discussion to clarify the incident with Zwanziger, whose work she values,'' Seibert said.
He said publication of the photo was in keeping with regulations set by the federation.
The photo showing Merkel and Oezil has a symbolic value at the time of an intense debate in Germany on how the country should integrate its foreign-born population, especially the 4 million Muslims.
Merkel arranged the visit to the dressing room at halftime of the Euro 2012 qualifier with team manager Oliver Bierhoff, bypassing Zwanziger.
German president Christian Wulff, his teenage daughter, Merkel's spokesman and photographer accompanied Merkel on the trip to the dressing room in Olympic Stadium.
