Soccer Blog Post

Iranian Soccer Players Show Support for Mir-Hossein Mousavi

Soccer, Team News / Analysis, Player News / Analysis, World Cup

When Sports And Politics Mix: Iranian Soccer Players Show Support For Opposition Leader Mir-Hossein Mousavi

6/17/09 in Soccer | mooser58 | 1 respect

While the fighting continues in the streets of Tehran over the disputed Presidential election, several members of the Iranian National Soccer team took the field in an World Cup qualifying match in South Korea to show their support for the opposition leader Mir-Hossein Mousavi (notice the green wristbands worn by Mohammed Ali Karimi above).

Hopefully their show of support does not cost them anything more than a possible fine. Iran, of all the Middle Eastern country countries, has actually shown a decent level of tolerance in terms of political protest of its leaders over the years. So the soccer players aren't likely in much danger, but their protest speaks volumes.

What are your thoughts though on political protests in sports? There have been many over the years, from Muhammad Ali refusing to go to Vietnam to the 1968 Black Power salute during the 1968 Olympics. Should athletes take the bold step of taking a stand on controversial political issues? Or should they be more like Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan, as in, let's keep our mouths shut and keep pocketing money.

Let us know below.

leave comment

6/18/09 | Blackbelt_98 | 2 respect

wrote:

i kinda liked the black power salute. That took balls to do it back in 1968 when all of the racist things were going on.

What's typically forgotten is the Australian guy next to them. He's wearing an OHPR badge. Personally I think what he did took great courage.

6/18/09 | cuncon_287

good luck

6/18/09 | djjfrench | 67 respect

wrote:

i kinda liked the black power salute. That took balls to do it back in 1968 when all of the racist things were going on.

That made me smile to read. As a black man thank you.

6/18/09 | djjfrench | 67 respect

summed up well.

6/18/09 | Tattooed_Fish

I have to applaud those athletes for making a quiet political statement. Because in all honesty, I don't think that many people would know what the green wristbands would mean without the media pointing it out to the world. I really hope that if there is a punishment for this political statement that it isn't any more severe than a fine.

6/17/09 | Heyhey1970 | 194 respect

If people have a good reason (or cause like "Blackbelt" said), I'm all for it. When I think of what will probably happen to those soccer players, it makes me proud of who we are as a country.

6/17/09 | BluDevil | 618 respect

wrote:

Both COULD be bigger voices for change, especially in the black community, but they don't. Jordan when asked why he did not back a certain political issue was quoted as saying "Because both Republicans and Democrats buy shoes".

I think it just depends on the person, really. I don't fault MJ or Tiger for not being huge in politics and I don't fault athletes who are huge in politics.

With that said, I wonder what the reaction in the US would have been had the US Mens Soccer Team came out in favor of Bush or Gore in 2000.

6/17/09 | mk_donley | 2554 respect

Congrats Ahmadinejad for making my top 10 list of the most stupidest quotes "Israel will be wiped off the map" Wait a minute that's one quote. I didn't have the other nine.......oops

6/17/09 | Blackbelt_98 | 2 respect

What issues have MJ and Tiger had to deal with that comes close to being a real issue i.e revolution or dramatic social change?

6/17/09 | Blackbelt_98 | 2 respect

Tough call, I think it depends on the cause.

Mexico City

6/17/09 | IlliniBob72 | 83 respect

(Edited by IlliniBob72)

This has nothing to do with anything, but when I first saw the title of this piece on the front page, I thought it read "When Sports and Politics Cuddle". That I'd love to see!

6/17/09 | nader2009 | 671 respect

So interesting news thank you for sharing