Australia is facing pressure to protect the Iranian women’s soccer team, the Lionesses, as the squad faces criticism at home over their failure to sing the national anthem at a Women’s Asian Cup match on the Gold Coast last week.
The team’s campaign ended Sunday with a 2-0 defeat to the Philippines, meaning players now face uncertainty about their return to Iran amid an escalating Middle East war. An Iranian state TV presenter labeled the players traitors, according to reports, after they remained silent during the national anthem before an opening loss to South Korea on March 2. The players sang the anthem and saluted in later matches.
Organizers have yet to outline departure arrangements for the players, who traveled to Australia only days before the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran erupted.