Washington: US President Donald Trump has urged Australia to grant asylum to the Iran women’s national football team, warning that sending them back to Iran could put their lives at risk.
Trump said deporting the team to their home country would be a serious humanitarian mistake and that the players could face severe consequences.
“Sending the Iranian women’s national football team back to their country would be a terrible humanitarian mistake. They could be killed there. Mr. Prime Minister – don’t do that, give them asylum. If you don’t, the United States will,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.
He added that the United States would be willing to provide asylum if Australia refuses to do so.
Meanwhile, ahead of the opening match of the Asian Cup in Australia, the Iranian women’s team reportedly refused to sing their national anthem. The team was later eliminated from the tournament after a 2-0 defeat to the Philippines on Sunday.
