The President of the United States urged the Prime Minister of Australia to give refuge to female soccer players after their act of rebellion against the Iranian regime
Iran's women's soccer team was at the center of strong international concern during the Asian Cup in Australia, after some players asked for help for fear of retaliation when they returned to their country.
In this context, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, publicly called for Australia to grant asylum to soccer players from the national team women from Iran participating in the Asian Cup, amid fears of possible retaliation if they return to their country
.
“Australia is making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing Iran's women's national soccer team to be forced to return to Iran, where they will most likely be killed,” Trump wrote in a message posted on the social network Truth.
Trump's post in Truth
In the same post, the U.S. leader urged the Australian Prime Minister to grant them protection. “Don't do it, Mr. Prime Minister, grant them asylum. The United States will receive them if you don't,” he added.
The request comes after a series of episodes that put world football on alert.
Before their debut in the continental tournament, the Iranian players decided not to sing the national anthem, a gesture that was not publicly explained but that was interpreted by sectors related to their country's regime as an act of disobedience.
From then on, some female soccer players were described as "traitors", raising concerns
for their safety if they returned to Iran.
Tension increased after the team's last game in the tournament. As the delegation was leaving the stadium, several fans surrounded the bus and began to shout at the police, “Save our girls! ”.
According to human rights activist Hadi Karimi, a member of the Iranian community in Australia, some fans said they saw at least three players inside the vehicle carrying out the international distress signal with their hands.
In the midst of this context, five members of the squad left the team's hotel and are currently in police custody in Australia
.
The situation also raised concern in the field of football. Beau Busch, president of the FIFPRO soccer players' union for Asia and Oceania, called for ensuring the safety of the players in the face of the risk of
retaliation.
For now, the future of female players remains uncertain, while calls for Australia to take steps to ensure their protection are growing.
