Ali Karimi, Hossein Kaebi, Masoud Shojaei, Mohammad Nosrati, Vahid Hashemian, and captain Mehdi Mahdavikia allegedly wore green wristbands in support of the Iranian Green Movement during the 2009 Iranian election protests. However green was one of the colors of their uniform, which also had green shirt logos. Initially it was reported that all seven players were banned for life by the Iranian Football Federation, but state-run media claimed that all seven had "retired". On 24 June 2009, FIFA wrote to Iran's Football Federation asking for clarification on the situation. The Iranian Football Federation replied that no disciplinary action has been taken against any player. As of 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification, several of the above-mentioned players have played again for the national team, notably Javad Nekounam, Masoud Shojaei, and Mehdi Mahdavikia. See also 2009–10 Iranian election protests 2011–12 Iranian protests 2017–18 Iranian protests 2019–20 Iranian protests Mahsa Amini protests References External links Nader Hashemi and Danny Postel's The People Reloaded: The Green Movement and the Struggle for Iran's Future 2011, Qantara.de Slater Bakhtavar's Iran: The Green Movement 2009, Parsa Enterprises UCLA Digital Library Collection of Green Movement Pictures and Videos Digital Gallery of Green Movement Art 2009 establishments in Iran History of civil rights and liberties in Iran History of the Islamic Republic of Iran Iranian democracy movements Islamism in Iran 2009 Iranian presidential election Nonviolent resistance movements Protests in Iran Reform movements