Iran footballers ‘living in safe house’ after defecting as Donald Trump issues plea | Football | Sport
Several players from the Iranian women’s national team are reportedly being kept in a safe house operated by the Australian Federal Police – and US President Donald Trump has weighed in on the matter. It comes after claims that five players have defected amid the ongoing war between Iran and the United States.
The Iranian team had been in Australia for the Asian Women’s Cup when US-Israeli airstrikes flattened parts of Tehran and killed Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. They finished bottom of their group, losing all three matches at the tournament and were due to return to Iran on Monday.
However, safety fears were raised after the team were labelled “wartime traitors” by Iranian state TV for not singing the national anthem during their first game against South Korea. They did sing the anthem in subsequent group stage matches, but there had been calls for their stay in Australia to be extended amid fears of punishment upon their return to Iran.
The Athletic report that Australian government representatives had outlined their options earlier in the week, before it was discovered five players were missing at the team’s scheduled dinner on Monday. Sources with knowledge of the event have said that police assisted the five players in leaving the hotel early on Monday evening local time.
A presenter on state TV said after the team refused to sing the national anthem: “Let me just say one thing: traitors during wartime must be dealt with more severely. Anyone who takes a step against the country under war conditions must be dealt with more severely.
“Like this matter of our women’s football team not singing the national anthem, and that photo that was published and so on, which I won’t get into. These people must be dealt with more severely.”
President Donald Trump issued a plea over the Iran team on Monday. He posted on Truth Social: “Australia is making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the Iran National Woman’s Soccer team to be forced back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed. Don’t do it, Mr. Prime Minister, give ASYLUM. The U.S. will take them if you won’t. Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
Social media footage showed anti-regime Iranian fans gathering outside the stadium following the team’s final match, with some even attempting to block the bus from exiting. The fans were also heard chanting: “Save our girls,” a tagline that has now gathered traction on social media as well.
Craig Foster, a former captain of the Australian men’s team and prominent human rights advocate, told the BBC he feared for their safety. He said: “When any team participates in a FIFA-regulated tournament, whether Asian Football Confederation or any other confederation, they must have the right to safety and external support to express any concerns they have around their safety now or in future.”
Before adding: “They’ve been held hostage by the Iranian team management in their hotel and they’ve been denied the opportunity to speak to external community members, friends, family or any support networks, be that lawyers or anyone else.
“Some may have concerns, others may not – but what we know is most of them have families back home, some of them have children back home, and even if offered the right to remain in Australia, if they feel unsafe, many of them may not accept that opportunity.”
