Australia has granted humanitarian visas to five members of the Iran women’s national football team after they sought asylum. According to the players, they could face harassment and legal prosecution if they returned to Iran after refusing to sing the national anthem before the start of an AFC Women’s Asian Cup match. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday in Canberra, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australians were deeply moved by the difficult situation faced by the athletes. “Australians have been greatly affected by the difficult circumstances of these brave women,” Albanese said. He added that the players are safe in Australia and should feel at home there. Meanwhile, Donald Trump, the President of the United States, praised Albanese for allowing the players to remain in Australia. In a post on social media, Trump wrote that if Australia had not accepted the players, the United States would have been ready to host them.
