Five Iranian women’s football players seeking asylum being ‘taken care of’ in Australia, Trump says
Five players from the Iranian women’s football team have broken free and are now under the protection of the Australian Federal Police, seeking assistance from the federal government.
Government sources have confirmed the reports, first published by Nine newspapers late on Monday night, to SBS News.
It’s understood Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has flown to Brisbane to meet with the women.
The Australian Federal Police and Queensland Police have declined to comment.
The team has been in Australia for the Women’s Asian Cup and has been staying at a hotel on the Gold Coast under heavy guard by Iranian security.
“They don’t eat in the restaurant. They have to eat in the conference room. They’re escorted once they get into the lobby and security makes sure they go to the conference room and don’t go anywhere else,” a source told SBS News last week.
Donald Trump says he’s spoken with prime minister
United States President Donald Trump said early on Tuesday that he had spoken with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about the team.
“Five have already been taken care of, and the rest are on their way. Some, however, feel they must go back because they are worried about the safety of their families, including threats to those family members if they don’t return,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.
“In any event, the Prime Minister is doing a very good job having to do with this rather delicate situation. God bless Australia!”
In an earlier post, Trump had urged Australia to grant the women asylum and said the US would otherwise take them.
“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 had said.
The development follows growing calls, including from some members of the federal Opposition, for the government to intervene and offer the players asylum.
Iranian community organisations had expressed grave fears the footballers could face retribution if they returned home after refusing to sing the national anthem before their tournament-opening match against South Korea last Monday, in what was widely viewed as a silent protest.
After their 2-0 defeat to the Philippines on Sunday, which ended their tournament, protesters blocked the team bus for about 15 minutes as it attempted to leave the venue.
Demonstrators banged on the side of the vehicle and chanted “let them go”, prompting police to intervene and push back a crowd of about 200 people.
As the bus slowly pulled away, some players were seen taking photos of the protest.
Before that match, the Iranian players and coaches again sang the national anthem and displayed a military salute.
“We want to come back to Iran as soon as we can,” coach Marziyeh Jafari said.
“I want to be with my country and with Iranians at home in Iran. We are eager to come back.”
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