Australian government urged to protect Iran football players after national anthem backflip

Australian government urged to protect Iran players after national anthem backflip Footballers sing and salute anthem days after standing silent at Asian Cup Matildas victory leaves Iran on brink of tournament exit and return home The Australian government has been urged to allow the Iran women’s national team players to remain in Australia after a state-aligned conservative commentator in Iran described them as “wartime traitors” and said they must be “dealt with more severely”. The Iran players are currently competing in the Women’s Asian Cup, and lost 4-0 to the Matildas on the Gold Coast in their second group-stage match on Thursday. Their final match is against the Philippines on Sunday night, after which they are due to return home to Iran. Footage shared on social media platform X on Friday showed Iran state television presenter Mohammad Reza Shahbazi accusing the team of dishonour for not singing the national anthem before their first match against South Korea on Monday. Before kick-off in their match against the Matildas on Thursday, the Iran players sang the anthem and saluted in a clear contrast to their approach to the anthem on Monday. Refugee Council chief executive Paul Power said: “certainly on the evidence that’s available, it would appear that the members of the women’s soccer team are at risk if they’re returned”, noting that people in Iran involved in “quite simple acts of peaceful protests have suffered dire consequences”. Germany-based Iranian journalist Ali Bornaei tagged foreign minister Penny Wong on X alongside the footage, calling on the Australian government to afford the team protection. “The lives of the Iranian Women’s National Football Team are in imminent danger. After their peaceful protest in Australia, Iranian state-linked media has officially labeled them ‘wartime traitors’,” Bornaei posted. “In Iran, ‘treason’ is a capital offense punishable by death. These athletes face arbitrary detention and execution if forced to return.” Wo...