Iran bans election protest footballers

[TheCoxwain]

Source: Guardian

Their gesture attracted worldwide comment and drew the attention of football fans to Iran's political turmoil. Now the country's authorities have taken revenge by imposing life bans on players who sported green wristbands in a recent World Cup match in protest against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's disputed re-election.

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.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jun/23/iran-football-protest-ban

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This Iranian clergy either doesnt care what the world thinks of them or needs some serious PR help ..

[lindisfarne]

1. No surprise there. I was expecting it. Why only 4 "retired"? That's the interesting issue.n/t

[bc3000]

5. look at their ages...

They were probably well on their way to retirement anyway. I don't know specifics, but it almost looks like a symbolic gesture: Ban the players that probably weren't ever going to play again anyway while quietly ignoring the same actions from players that they might need in the future.

edit: missed that one was 24... there goes that theory.

[lindisfarne]

9. Maybe the 24 y.o. wasn't a great player? n/t

[OwnedByFerrets]

2. Im actually surprised they werent imprisoned.

[ohio2007]

6. They usually get executed on returning home nt

[CreekDog]

12. ain't over yet

which sucks even worse.

[Renew Deal]

3. That's not a surprise.

It would also not be a surprise if they "disappeared."

[tkmorris]

4. They were just eliminated from the World Cup prelims

With the exception of Ka'abi they were in all likelihood not going to be around for the 2014 Cup qualifiers due to age, so it's a fairly empty gesture. It's still pretty crass. I wonder what the story is with the two players who weren't "retired"?

[Blue_Tires]

7. wow...Ali Karimi is one of their most famous and popular players

i know he's finishing up his national career, but still it was a good gesture...not like we ever see modern U.S. athletes ever take a political stance on anything...

[Blandocyte]

8. A small plane has been ordered for their trip home

[iandhr]

10. they will get there ass handed them in the World Cup

[Blue_Tires]

11. uhh... they didn't qualify...