Canberra: After being eliminated from the Asian Cup, five players from Iran’s women’s football team have been granted permission to remain in Australia on humanitarian visas. Australia’s Home Affairs Minister, Tony Burke, confirmed that the players have been moved to a secure location by the police.
The development comes after the Iranian team did not sing their national anthem before their match against South Korea last week. Following this incident, some individuals in Iran criticized the team and even called for strict punishment against the players. Fearing possible repercussions, the players decided to seek asylum.
The team had a total of 26 players and staff members present in Australia, but so far only five players have applied for asylum. The remaining members are still considering their options, as many of their families live in Iran and they fear potential action against their relatives.
