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At least four members of Iran’s national team who wore green armbands during last week’s World Cup qualifying match against South Korea in Seoul have been caught in the fallout from the disputed presidential election in Iran.

According to a newspaper in Iran that is closely identified with the government, four players — Ali Karimi, 31; the captain against South Korea, Mehdi Mahdavikia, 32; Hosein Ka’abi, 24; and Vahid Hashemian, 32 — “retired” from the national team.

They were among at least a half-dozen Iranian players were wore either green wristbands or armbands during the first half of the match, a 1-1 draw. The result, coupled with Saudi Arabia’s tie against visiting North Korea last Wednesday ended any chance Iran had to qualify for the next summer’s World Cup in South Africa.

Green has become a signature color of the protests against the disputed re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as Iran’s president. Authorities in Iran have been dealing with street demonstrations after the apparent defeat of the opposition candidate Mir Hussein Moussavi in the election on June 12.