After being eliminated from the Asian Cup, the players reportedly escaped their regime minders and are being looked after by police in Queensland
Middle East crisis – live updates
Five members of the Iranian women’s football team have been taken into the protection of police in Australia after refusing to return to their home country following the team’s elimination from the Women’s Asian Cup, according to reports.
Speculation had mounted for days that some of the players would try to seek asylum in Australia after reports that they had been called “traitors” for refusing to sing their national anthem before their opening game of the tournament last week.
On Monday there was a tense standoff at the team hotel on the Gold Coast in Queensland, where anti-Iranian regime protesters gathered as the players prepared to board a bus taking them to the airport for their return flight to Iran.
