Protestors in Australia attempt to cease Iran footballers being dragged again to Tehran
Tearful Iranian women’s team players were seen being led out of their Gold Coast hotel as demonstrators lay in front of the bus chanting ‘save our girls’ after fears for their safety back home
Iran Women’s team player appears to be dragged on to the team bus
Tearful members of the Iran women’s football team were dragged on to a bus in Australia as protestors attempted to stop the players being forced back to Tehran.
In a chaotic stand-off outside a hotel on the Gold Coast, a group of demonstrators lay in front of the bus chanting “save our girls”. US President Donald Trump had warned the footballers could be killed, after they refused to sing the Iranian national anthem before their match against South Korea and instead performed a military salute.
The players received a concerning backlash in Iran and were branded ‘wartime traitors’ on state TV.
After their Asian Cup campaign ended with a 2-0 defeat to the Philippines on Sunday night, players were seen making what appeared to be an ‘SOS’ hand signal on the team bus. That is a closed fist with the thumb underneath the fingers.
The protestors momentarily stopped the squad from being driven out of the hotel but were eventually dispersed and a Queensland Police convoy accompanied the bus to the Gold Coast airport.
The team boarded a flight from the Gold Coast to Sydney where they are scheduled to fly back to Iran via Kuala Lumpur on a Malaysian Airlines flight. The players were taken out of the back of the plane and put on a bus.
Dozens of supporters had also gathered in Sydney to voice their frustration that the players, closely guarded by airport staff and Australian Federal Police, hadn’t been able to seek asylum in Australia like five of their team-mates successfully did on Monday.
A group of five players escaped from the Royal Pines Resort on Monday night after one received a message from a family member which read: ‘You need to stay.’ They were moved to a safe location by Australian police and it was later confirmed by Immigration Minister Tony Burke that the women had been granted humanitarian visas.
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The five women who sought protection are Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Ghanbari, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramazanzadeh and Mona Hamoudi. The group have already been given an offer to train with A-League Women’s club Brisbane Roar.
While they are expected to remain in Australia under humanitarian protection, the fate of their team-mates remains uncertain.
Burke revealed the other team members have been provided with the option to stay. He said on Tuesday morning: “We are making sure there are further opportunities where if people want to make a request [to stay] they get that opportunity.”
