The Australian Labor government has granted asylum to five players from the Iranian women’s soccer team following a phone call from U.S. President Donald Trump to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
On March 10, Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed the women were granted humanitarian visas to avoid persecution in their home country for refusing to sing the Iranian national anthem at one of their Asian Cup games, currently being held in Australia.
Burke says conversations about granting asylum began in the early hours or March 9.
U.S. President Trump revealed on a Truth Social post on the same day that he had called the prime minister and was assured the players were being “cared for” and that other team members were “on their way” to asylum in the country.
The team came under protection after the final match of the Asian Women’s Cup against the Philippines in Australia the night before.
Players on the 26-member squad were labeled by Iran’s state media as “wartime traitors” and threatened with punishment after they refused to sing the country’s national anthem before a loss to South Korea last week.
The players, who range in age from 18 to 34, again stayed silent for their anthem four days later before a match against Australia. Before their last match on March 8, they again stayed silent, and some saluted.
The act was viewed by some as resistance during the ongoing conflict faced by the ruling Islamic republic in their home country.
Humanitarian activists and supporters urged Australia to grant the team political asylum to protect them from threats and possible retaliation.
Amid the growing concern for the team, the Australian Iranian Council urged Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke to protect the players.
Earlier on March 9, Trump said Australia was “making a terrible humanitarian mistake” by allowing the Iranian team to be forced to go back to Iran instead of offering asylum.
“The U.S. will take them if you won’t,” Trump said.
Two hours later, Trump posted on social media: “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 take 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!” Trump wrote.
The prime minister’s office did not immediately return a request for comment.
The Iranian team was eliminated from this year’s Asian Cup after losing all four of their group stage matches.
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