According to US President Donald Trump, the Australian government is seeking asylum for Iran’s female footballers. “I just spoke to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about the Iranian women’s national soccer team. He cares about it!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Five players have already been taken care of, the others are on the way. “However, some feel compelled to return because they fear for the safety of their families, including because of threats against family members if they do not return,” Trump wrote.

Trump takes Australia to task

The US President had previously called for asylum for Iran’s footballers with his usual strong words – and promised help from the US in the event of rejection in Australia.

“Australia is making a grave humanitarian mistake by allowing the Iranian women’s national soccer team to be sent back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed. Don’t do that, Mr. Prime Minister! Grant ASYLUM! The US will take them in if you don’t,” wrote Trump on his platform Truth Social. The post was shared by the official White House X account. The USA and Israel have been engaged in a military conflict with Iran for days.

Media outlets, including CNN, had previously reported that five members of the Iranian women’s national football team had applied for asylum from Australian authorities after their exit from the Asian Cup. There was initially no official confirmation from the Iranian or Australian side.

FIFA also reacts

The people left the team hotel out of concern for their safety and went into the custody of the police, CNN reported with reference to an unidentified source. According to the British news agency PA, the team eliminated on Sunday was still in Australia on Monday afternoon.

“The safety of the Iranian women’s national team is FIFA’s top priority,” a spokesman for the world football governing body told PA. We are in close contact with the responsible authorities and the relevant associations. According to the Australian news agency AAP, Iranian coach Marziyeh Jafari said: “I want to be with my country and the Iranians in my homeland. We long to return.”

Silent protest during the national anthem

Recently, numerous organizations and civil society groups expressed concern that the players could be persecuted by hardliners if they returned to their home country. Background: During the first group game, the players were silent when their national anthem was played. This was seen as a sign against those in power in Iran.

Conservative commentators in Iran described the behavior as a betrayal of the Iranian government. The team then sang and saluted the national anthem in its final two games. The scenes in Australia were reminiscent of this Behavior of the Iranian men’s national team during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Here too, the team remained silent before the first game and sang the national anthem again before the second game – presumably also under pressure from the association.