Donald Trump has accused Australia of ‘making a terrible humanitarian mistake’ by allowing Iran’s national women’s football team to be sent home and called on Australia’s prime minister to give asylum to team members.
The Iranians’ started theirAustralian-hosted Asian Cup campaign at the same time that he US and Israel launched air strikes on Iran, killing the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
The team was eliminated on Sunday after losing 2-0 to the Philippines and must now return to their war-torn homeland amid significant fears for their safety.
Australia’s SBS News said five players from the Iranian women’s football team had ‘broken free’ and were now under the protection of the Australian Federal Police, seeking assistance from the government.
‘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,’ Trump posted on Truth Social.
‘The US will take them if you won’t.’
Global players’ union FIFPRO said earlier on Monday there were serious concerns for the welfare of the team, as they prepared to return home after being labelled ‘wartime traitors’ for refusing to sing their national anthem before a game.
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The players’ decision to stand in silence during Iran’s anthem before their first match against South Korea was labelled by a commentator on Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting as the ‘pinnacle of dishonour’.
The team then sang the anthem and saluted before their second match against Australia, sparking fears among human rights campaigners that the women had been coerced by government minders.
When asked whether Australia would grant the players asylum, Matt Thistlethwaite, the assistant minister for foreign affairs and trade, said the government could not ‘go into individual circumstances for privacy reasons’.
Earlier in the competition, meanwhile, forward Sara Didar struggled to hold back tears when asked her about the escalating conflict in her country, as coach Marziyeh Jafari said her players were doing their best to focus on football, despite concern for their families back home.
Fighting erupted a fortnight ago when the US and Israel launched air strikes on Iran, after which Iran launched missiles at countries on the Arabian Peninsula.
‘Obviously we’re all concerned and sad at what has happened to Iran and our families in Iran and our loved ones, but I really hope it’s very good for our country, to have good news ahead and I hope that my country would be strongly alive,’ 21-year-old Didar said.
Coach Jafari said the Iranian team wanted to make their Iranian-Australian supporters proud.
‘We have so much concern regarding our families and the people in Iran,’ she said. ‘Nobody loves war … but here, we are coming to play football professionally and we do our best to concentrate on our football and match ahead.’