Several members of the Iranian national soccer team wore a green wristband during a recent World Cup qualifying match in Seoul to show support for the pro-opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi.
But the simple gesture has now reportedly cost these players their spots on the national team. Four of the players who wore the green tape on their wrists in the qualifying game against South Korea have been banned from the team for life. They have also been banned from giving interviews.
According to one pro-government newspaper in Iran, the team members have been “retired” from the team.
The players – most notably Ali Karimi and Medhi Mahdavikia – wore the wristbands as a sign of solidarity with the supporters of Mousavi who accuse the Iranian government of fixing the June 12 election in favor of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Mousavi adopted the color green during the election campaign and the color has been at the heart of the opposition protests since the disputed election.
Some newspapers have suggested the players retired voluntarily because of their age. But others suggest the players were forced out. Karimi, who has played internationally for Germany’s Bayern Munich, is 31 and Mahdavikia is 32.
At least six players wore the green tape on their wrists for the start of the World Cup qualifier, but according to the Telegraph of London most of the players were forced to remove the symbol of protest during halftime.
It is unclear why only four members of the team were banned, Daily News reported.
