Iranian footballers banned for life

Some of the Iranian footballers played the first half of the match wearing a green wrist band in support of Mir Hossein Mousavi, the defeated Presidential candidate. Mousavi has alleged that the election was rigged in favour of Ahmadinejad. During the campaign phase, Mousavi used the green colour extensively.

The green colour has become a symbol of support for Mousavi and opposition against Ahmadinejad and the ruling regime.

At the start of the second half, the players returned without the green armband after being reportedly told to take them off.

A total of six football players wore the green band on that day. Reports state that only four of the players received the life time ban.

The players who were forced to retire are Ali Karimi, 31, Mehdi Mahdavikia, 32, Hosein Ka'abi, 24 and Vahid Hashemian, 32.

The Iranian ruling regime is currently in the middle of a clampdown on protestors against President Ahmadinejad.

However, protestors have continued to take to the streets despite violence and intimidation used by the government forces.