Iran soccer players booted off team for on-field protest

Iran has ordered four players to retire from the country's national soccer team after they held an on-field protest against the presidential elections during a match in Seoul nearly a week ago.

The four players, including Captain Mehdi Mahdavikia and star Ali Karimi wore green armbands during a match against South Korea. Green is associated with the campaign of opposition leader Mir Houssein Mousavi.

The match was televised across Iran, and the wristband protest was seen by many soccer fans watching on state TV.

During the match, fans both inside and outside the stadium demonstrated in support of the opposition protests, waving signs and chanting anti-Ayatollah and anti-Ahmadinejad slogans.

Iran was later eliminated from World Cup qualifying because of a draw between Saudi Arabia and North Korea.