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Iranian Players Who Wore Green Wristbands Are Now Banned/Retired
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Remember how six Iranian players wore green wristbands for the first half of the World Cup Qualifier vs South Korea recently? Well, apparently four of those six players have now retired from in international football. Or – more likely – banned.
Here’s what The Guardian has to say:
According to the pro-government newspaper Iran, four players – Ali Karimi, 31, Mehdi Mahdavikia, 32, Hosein Ka’abi, 24 and Vahid Hashemian, 32 – have been “retired” from the sport after their gesture in last Wednesday’s match against South Korea in Seoul.
They were among six players who took to the field wearing wristbands in the colour of the defeated opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi, which has been adopted by demonstrators who believe the 12 June election was stolen.
The Guardian also says that all Team Melli players have been banned from giving interviews and none of them have had their passports returned to them on their return home.
Karimi and Mahdavikia are two of Iran’s best – and best known – players. Mahdavikia wore the captain’s armband. And while they and Hashemian are both in their thirties, Ka’abi is just 24. Which pretty much rules out any chance of this being a regular Paul Scholes style international retirement.
This incident highlights just how brave the players were in wearing those wristbands. They knew that there would be consequences, but did it anyway.
And though I’m not sure what the Iranian government hopes to achieve here, I am sure that stripping the Iranian national team of some its best players is not going to make them any more popular with the Iranian people.
This the same Ali Karimi which played for Bayern München?
Yes, same one.
Sorry, I meant “whom played.”
Agreed, this. Sucks.
Disgusting, reminds us how luck we are to have the ability of free speech.
Hopefully they just can’t play soccer again for Iran and not something worse.
We aren’t lucky to have it, it took a lot of work to win our freedom of speech. I’m hoping that with Iran’s struggles right now, they can win some freedoms of their own. Neda forever.
this is terrible news
appalling repression. no wonder the israeli prime minister feels vindicated. the actions of the iranian government illustrate the bankruptcy of a theocratic state.
Posted from 
United Kingdom
appalling repression. no wonder the israeli prime minister feels vindicated. the actions of the iranian government illustrate the bankruptcy of a theocratic state.
Posted from United Kingdom
Is Iran going to play again?
Who is playing in the next world cup match?
Posted from 
United States
I’m touched that these players choose to demonstrate their support for the rights of their fellow citizens. I think they were aware of the potential cost, and made their choices accordingly. Some things are more important than others.
These guys are hugely popular in Iran, especially Karimi, who was once their most successful export to Germany. Hashemian plays for Bochum and Mahdavikia used to play for Hamburg and now plays for Eintracht Frankfurt, all Bundesliga teams. I wonder what will happen in July, at the start of training, if these guys aren’t given their passports back.
Posted from United States
Iran should be kicked out of FIFA. This is a clear government intrusion in football
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This. Sucks.