Members of Iran’s women’s soccer team reportedly signaled for “help” after their defeat in the Women’s Asian Cup in Australia over the weekend. This comes amid increasing concerns that they may face persecution if they return to Iran, with several players seeking asylum.
The safety of these athletes has been a growing concern ever since Iranian state media labeled them as “wartime traitors” for their refusal to sing the national anthem before a match last week.
Following their elimination from the tournament after a 2-0 defeat to the Philippines on Sunday, activists claim that at least one player was seen gesturing the word “help” from a bus window as the team departed the stadium in Queensland.
Reports indicate that at least five members of the team have since left the hotel where they were staying, in a bid to avoid returning to Iran.
Amid these developments, former President Donald Trump has called on the Australian government to grant asylum to the players, expressing grave concerns about their safety.
“Australia is making a grave humanitarian mistake by allowing the Iranian National Women’s Soccer team to be forced back to Iran, where they could likely be killed,” Trump warned in a post on Truth Social.
“The US will take them if you wonât.”
Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Ghanbari, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramazanzadeh and Mona Hamoudi were among the players who have already sought protection.
“These five courageous athletes, currently in a safe location, have announced that they have joined Iranâs national Lion and Sun Revolution,” Iran’s exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi posted on X.
Meanwhile, the global players’ union FIFPRO said earlier Monday that there were serious concerns for the welfare of the team as players prepared to return home.
The alarm for the players’ safety has been raging ever since the women opted to stand in silence during Iran’s anthem during their first match of the tournament against South Korea last week — just as the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran, killing the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
State media commentators quickly branded the move the “pinnacle of dishonor.”
“Traitors during wartime must be dealt with more severely,” presenter Mohammad Reza Shahbazi raged on Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.
When the women then sang the anthem and saluted before their second match against Australia, it sparked fears among human rights campaigners that the team had been coerced by government minders.
Following their elimination from the tournament on Sunday, Iranian fans desperately tried to prevent the team coach from leaving the stadium and were filmed chanting “Save our girls.”
More than 66,000 people have also signed a petition calling on the Australian government to ensure the players don’t have to leave the country “while credible fears for their safety remain.”
Beau Busch, FIFPRO president for Asia and Oceania, said the union had been unable to contact the players to discuss whether they would like to seek asylum in Australia.
“It’s a really challenging situation,” he said, adding the union was working with FIFA, the Asian Football Confederation and the Australian government to ensure that “every bit of pressure is applied” to protect the players.
“There may be players that want to return. There may be some players within the group that would like to seek asylum and would like to stay in Australia for longer.”
With Post wires
