US President Donald Trump said on Monday that five players from the Iranian women’s soccer team were “cared for” after they became under Australian protection and requested asylum, amid fears that they would be persecuted if they returned to Iran.
Trump added, via the TRUTH SOCIAL platform: “I just spoke with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about the Iranian women’s soccer team… He is dealing with the matter… Five have already been taken care of and the rest are on their way,” after the US President had previously criticized the Australian government in this regard.
The US President praised the Australian Prime Minister, saying he was doing a “very good job” in a “very sensitive situation.”
The Australian ABC network reported that 5 players from the Iranian national team were able to leave the team’s residence in the city of Gold Coast, and are now under police protection in the state of Queensland after requesting asylum in Australia.
“We welcome them to stay in Australia.”
In turn, the Australian Minister of Home Affairs, Tony Burke, said at dawn on Tuesday, local time, that the other players were staying in a hotel in the city of Gold Coast, adding that he had offered the rest of the team members the opportunity to stay in Australia as well.
Burke explained, in a press conference: “I was able to inform five players from the Iranian women’s national football team that they are welcome to stay in Australia, that they are safe here, and that they should feel at home.”
The Iranian women’s national football team was participating in the Asian Cup in Australia, and began its journey in the tournament coinciding with the United States and Israel launching air strikes on Iran that resulted in the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
The team bid farewell to the tournament on Sunday, after losing 2-0 to the Philippines.
Fifbro shows concern
The Professional Footballers’ Federation (FIFPro) said on Monday that there are serious concerns about the safety of the Iranian women’s national team as they prepare to return home after they were described as “wartime traitors” for refusing to sing the national anthem before an Asian Cup match.
One of the commentators at the Iranian Radio and Television Corporation described the players’ decision to remain silent during the playing of the national anthem before the first match in the tournament against South Korea as “the height of shame,” according to Reuters.
Iranian media quoted Farida Shojaei, head of women’s football at the Iranian Football Federation, as saying that the team left the hotel through the back door, accompanied by the police.
In the second match against Australia, the players sang the national anthem and the salute was condemned, which raised concerns among human rights activists that this may have been done under pressure from government officials.
Australia granted urgent humanitarian visas to more than 20 players from the Afghan women’s cricket team, after the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
