"Iran finish fourth in Group A and are eliminated despite some heroic saves from the goalkeeper, Raha Yazdani, in their final game. Their third loss came after the players and coaches sang the national anthem, displaying a military salute before the match. It was the second time they sang the anthem in the tournament after they decided not to before their opening game against South Korea last Monday."
"Iran's state television called them traitors for not singing, saying the team was the pinnacle of dishonour as it came less than 48 hours after the US-Israel assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. On Sunday, fans also held up multiple flags of Imperial Iran, the country's official flag before the Islamic Revolution of 1979."
"It is not known how or when Iran's players will be able to return home, given the war and fears the regime could arrest them. Australia's shadow attorney general, Julian Leeser, has called for the government to offer asylum to the Iranian team. Given the serious threats, members of the Iranian team should be offered asylum if they want it."
Iran's women's soccer team was eliminated from the Women's Asian Cup after losing 2-0 to the Philippines on the Gold Coast. The team finished fourth in Group A despite strong goalkeeping performances. The match followed controversy surrounding the team's decision to sing the national anthem with a military salute, reversing their earlier choice not to sing before their opening game. This decision drew criticism from Iran's state television, which called them traitors. Additionally, fans displayed pre-revolution Iranian Imperial flags at the stadium. Concerns have emerged about the players' safety upon returning home, with Australian opposition politician Julian Leeser calling for the government to offer asylum to the team members due to serious threats they may face.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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