World Watch
June 17, 2009 9:18 AM

Iran Soccer Players Behind Mousavi?

By
Tucker Reals
Topics
World Watch
(CBS/Twitpic.com)

A number of Twitter users had said today that members of Iran's national soccer team were wearing green wristbands - an apparent show of solidarity with the opposition movement headed by Mir Hossein Mousavi.

The team played South Korea in Seoul Wednesday in a World Cup qualifier match. We found the image at left, apparently taken from Iranian TV during the match, on Twitpic.com.

Just like anything else on a social networking site, we can't verify that the picture shows what it says it shows... It is not clear how many of the players wore the green bands, and it is impossible to be sure they did so in support of Mousavi's movement.

Multiple Tweeters reported the wristbands being worn. Someone said the players were made to remove them at halftime.

CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer reported from Tehran Wednesday that the government had managed to block all access to Twitter, Facebook and MySpace inside the country.

  • Tucker Reals

    Tucker Reals is a senior news editor and overnight site editor for CBSNews.com, based at CBS News' London bureau.

Add a Comment
by David_pars June 18, 2009 11:18 AM EDT
It is ridiculous how CBS never tells you what exactly the story is, but a bunch of mumbo jumbo stating that this is the picture we never know if it?s true or not. It?s like they are trying to sign a legal contract. Come on! You are in America. There is something called freedom of speech. Newspapers in Iran got more guts than CBS.
Reply to this comment
by ToolMangler1 June 17, 2009 1:50 PM EDT
This is a surprise!!
This is one of the few stories about Irans troubles that we have been allowed to comment on.
The rest have no comment areas whatever....
Reply to this comment
by sanamd June 17, 2009 1:37 PM EDT
I think it is so obvious why they wore green wristbands. If you don't know how many of them had it, I'm sure you guys can find a picture that includes the whole team!!!! You can also compare it with their previous games to find out if they ever worn this green wristbands before. Just google it, it taks less than a minute.
What a ridiculous report from CBS! Don't you guys have a better way to report this game that you refer to a twit?

totally disappointed!
Reply to this comment
by bhuddaflii June 17, 2009 1:25 PM EDT
i am so sick of the american propoganda from out media! report on the swine flu mutation! sebelius saying she wants to set our kids schools up as swine flu clinics!!!

leave these iranians alone! bush stole TWO elections! who the heck are we to talk??
Reply to this comment
by despido June 17, 2009 1:08 PM EDT
IF true.... So much for the Iranian soccer team. My condolences.
Reply to this comment
by gravyboat3000 June 17, 2009 11:09 AM EDT
This is an interesting developement. I wonder, how did they manage to force the players to remove the wrist bands at half time?

I don't tweet, but I may start, what a great resource for the people of Iran, before the Govt. shut it down anyway...
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