Trump calls on Australia to give asylum to Iranian women's soccer team members

WASHINGTON, March 9 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that Australia was “making a terrible humanitarian mistake” by allowing Iran’s national women’s ​soccer team to be sent back home and called on Australia’s prime ‌minister to give asylum to team members.

The Iranians’ campaign in the Australian-hosted Asian Cup tournament started just as the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes on Iran, killing the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader ​Ali Khamenei. The team was eliminated on Sunday after losing 2-0 to ​the Philippines.

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“Australia is making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the ⁠Iran National Woman’s Soccer team to be forced back to Iran, where they will ​most likely be killed,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “The U.S. will take them if ​you won’t.”

Australia’s embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s remarks.

Australia’s SBS News said five players from the Iranian women’s football team had “broken free” and were now ​under the protection of the Australian Federal Police, seeking assistance from the government. ​It said government sources had confirmed the reports and added that Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke ‌had ⁠flown to Brisbane to meet with the women.

Global players’ union FIFPRO said earlier on Monday there were serious concerns for the welfare of the team, as they prepared to return home after being labelled for refusing to sing their national anthem ​before a game.

The players’ ​decision to stand ⁠in silence during Iran’s anthem before their first match against South Korea was labelled by a commentator on Islamic Republic of ​Iran Broadcasting as the “pinnacle of dishonour”.

The team then sang the anthem ​and saluted ⁠before their second match against Australia, sparking fears among human rights campaigners that the women had been coerced by government minders.

When asked whether Australia would grant the players asylum, ⁠Matt ​Thistlethwaite, the assistant minister for foreign affairs and trade, ​said the government could not “go into individual circumstances for privacy reasons”.

Reporting by Katharine Jackson; Additional reporting by ​David Brunnstrom; writing by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, David Ljunggren and Bill Berkrot

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