Donald Trump has taken to social media to update people on the status of players from the Iran women’s football team after urging Australia to grant them asylum
The President of the United States Donald Trump has claimed that Australia has granted asylum to five members of the Iran women’s football team on social media.
Players refused to sing the nation’s national anthem prior to their opening game in the Women’s Asia Cup last week, sparking fears they could be punished should they return to Iran.
That prompted calls for them to be able to remain in Australia, who are hosting the tournament, with Trump taking to social media on Monday to urge the Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, to step in saying that failure to grant the players asylum would be a “terrible humanitarian mistake”.
He wrote: “Australia is making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the Iran National Woman’s (sic) Soccer team to be forced back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed. Don’t do it, Mr. Prime Minister (Anthony Albanese), give ASYLUM. The U.S. will take them if you won’t. Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
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A short while later, Trump then seemed to confirm that the players in question had been granted asylum after speaking with Albanese before saying “the rest are on their way”. It remains unclear if any further players will remain in Australia.
Trump added: “I just spoke to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, of Australia, concerning the Iranian National Women’s Soccer Team. He’s on it!
“Five have already been taken care of, and the rest are on their way. Some, however, feel they must go back because they are worried about the safety of their families, including threats to those family members if they don’t return. In any event, the Prime Minister is doing a very good job having to do with this rather delicate situation. God bless Australia!”
Videos circulated on social media of the team bus leaving the stadium after a 2-0 loss to the Philippines, where it appeared some of the players were pleading for help.
Some had branded the players “traitors” for their act of defiance. It was reported in the hours before their scheduled flight home that five of the players had slipped their regime minders and were taking refuge in a safe house in Australia.
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