Calls are growing for Australia to provide asylum to the Iranian women's football team after their brave act at an Asian Cup match saw the players branded 'wartime traitors' who should be 'dealt with severely'. Like this matter of our women's football team not singing the national anthem, and that photo that was published and so on, which I won't get into. 'Both the public and the authorities must treat these individuals as 'wartime traitors.' 'The Iranian women’s players still have a match remaining in this tournament. 'FIFA and the [Asian Football Confederation] must issue a clear public statement affirming that every player competing under their jurisdiction holds the unqualified right to any response, or non-response, to their own national anthem.'

Source: Metro March 06, 2026 09:54 UTC