Sports Don’t Hate the Player: A History of Political Statements in Sports

Yesterday, in a show of solidarity with pro-democracy demonstrators in their native country, Iranian soccer players sported green armbands at a World Cup qualifying match. Even though armbands probably won’t win the Iranians a new regime election, we still commend the players for their ballsy move (especially since they failed to qualify for the Cup).

Sporting events have long been a podium for politically-minded athletes to make a statement about injustice or oppression (ever since Moses wrote “Let me people go” on his headband prior to Super Bowl 1300 BC). As a salute to the courage of the Iranian soccer team, we take a look at The History of Athletes Taking a Stand at Sporting Events…