*UPDATE AT 12:13 PM EDT* Trump spoke to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese concerning asylum for the Iranian women’s soccer team.
Sounds like it will happen:
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! President DONALD J. TRUMP
The Iranian women’s soccer team has voiced concerns about their safety if they return to their country after the Women’s Asian Cup in Australia.
Five women have already fled the team’s hotel and claimed asylum.
The Philippines’ women’s team eliminated the Iranians on Sunday, beating them 2-0.
The loss means the ladies should be on their way back to Iran soon.
President Donald Trump offered the entire team asylum if Australia refuses to protect them:
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. Don’t do it, Mr. Prime Minister, give ASYLUM. The U.S. will take them if you won’t. Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP
Last Monday, the players stood silent during the national anthem.
Hardliners considered the silence an act of treason.
CNN linked to an Instagram post with a video showing “state media presenter Mohammad Reza Shahbazi intimating the players were ‘traitors’ and saying they ‘must be dealt with more severely.'”
Well, a few days later, another source told CNN that the ladies were “forced to salute and sing” the anthem before Thursday’s game.
The ladies are also surrounded:
Sources tell CNN Sports that the players are under heavy guard and are constantly monitored by Iranian security, including by one man who is believed to be affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The players were pressured and ultimately forced to show support ahead of their 4-0 loss against Australia through threats on their families, the sources say.
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