Tehran, 25 June (AKI) - The head of the Iranian parliament's sports committee on Thursday denied claims that four Iranian football players had been banned for wearing a green arm and wrist band in support of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi.

The four players wore the armbands during a match last week against South Korea in the qualification rounds for next year's World Cup to be held in South Africa.

"No player has been banned and basically parliament is not authorised to impose such a ban," said Jalal Yahyazade, quoted by Iran's official English-language channel Press TV.

Yahyazade's statement came after several international media outlets, including the American CNN network, claimed that four members of the team were banned for life after showing their support for Mousavi with the green armbands.

Green is the colour used by the defeated presidential candidate in his campaign and has been highly visible on the streets of Tehran during the recent political protests.

On Tuesday, two veteran players Mehdi Mahdavikia, and Ali Karimi, both aged 31, announced their retirement from the Iranian national squad.

"I am very sad to be missing the 2010 World Cup. We wanted to be messengers of happiness for the Iranians,” said Mahdavikia, quoted by Iran's Sports Press news agency on Tuesday.

“As I’ve already said, the South Korea match was my last game in the national team and it was so disappointing."

British daily The Guardian said both players were "retired" by authorities.

Iran was held to a 1-1 draw in its last qualifier against South Korea on 17 June and failed to qualify for the World Cup.