Photo: Team Melli Show Support for Iranian Protestors

June 18th, 2009 | by: Daryl | View Comments

For yesterday’s World Cup qualifier vs South Korea, six of the 11 Iran players took the field wearing green wristbands, almost certainly a sign of support for and solidarity with those protesting the recent Presidential election result in Iran.

Iran drew the game 1-1, and Saudi Arabia later drew 0-0 with North Korea, results which mean Team Melli will not be going to World Cup 2010. (Australian and Japan qualified from Group 1, South Korea and North Korea from Group 2, while Saudi Arabia and Bahrain will have a two-legged playoff to decided who beats faces New Zealand for a place in South Africa. Final AFC World Cup qualifications standings here.)

But because of Team Melli’s high profile in Iran, and the fact that the game was broadcast for all to see, this might be one of those rare occasions where what the players wore was much more important than the result.