JUST IN :Pressure Mounts To Grant Iranian Women’s Football Team Asylum After Home Govt Brands Them Traitors

The Iran women’s football team faces the uncertain prospect of returning home after a 2-0 defeat against the Philippines ended their Women’s Asian Cup campaign.
The Philippines’ Sara Eggesvik and Chandler McDaniel scored the goals on the Gold Coast last night.
Iran finished fourth in Group A and were eliminated despite some heroic saves from goalkeeper Raha Yazdani in their final game.

Their third loss came after the players and coaches sang the national anthem and displayed a military salute before the match.
It was the second time they sang the anthem in the tournament after deciding not to do so before their opening game against South Korea last Monday.
Iran’s state television had earlier called them “traitors” for not singing, describing the team as “the pinnacle of dishonour,” as the action came less than 48 hours after the US-Israel assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s Supreme Leader.
During the last match, fans also held up multiple flags of Imperial Iran, the country’s official flag before the Islamic Revolution of 1979, which ushered in the rule of the Ayatollahs.
It remains unclear how or when Iran’s players will be able to return home, given the war and fears that the regime could arrest them or impose harsher consequences on the players.
Foreign nations are therefore scrambling to safeguard the freedoms — and possibly the lives — of the women under the circumstances.
For instance, Australia’s shadow Attorney General, Julian Leeser, has called on the government to offer asylum to the Iranian team.
“On International Women’s Day, we must stand up for the women in our midst,” Leeser said today.
“We know that in recent days serious threats have been made against the courageous Iranian women’s soccer team who are currently playing in Australia.
“Given the serious threats, members of the Iranian team should be offered asylum if they want it. The Australian government should not turn a blind eye to the danger these women face.”
It remains unclear what assistance the government can or will offer to the players. The Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, declined to answer questions on whether the federal government had been in contact with any of the Iranian footballers earlier on Sunday.
Former Socceroos captain Craig Foster has also urged FIFA and Football Australia to uphold their obligations to protect the safety of players.
“Human rights must be granted to all athletes during competition,” he posted on X.
“The rights of all athletes must be the paramount consideration at all times. Under FIFA’s human rights policy, the safety of all players takes precedence over the protocols of a member federation, whether in a tournament or otherwise.
“At all times, this requires individual player agency, not group decision-making or imposed dictates. Given the public threats in response to the protected actions of the Iranian women’s team, concerns for their safety are justified and urgent.”
Twelve Iranian community organisations and civil society groups have also sent a letter to Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke outlining that they have “grave concerns” for the team.