President Trump said Australian PM Albanese has agreed to let Iranian soccer players stay in Australia, with five already “taken care of” after their call, though some may still return to Iran over concerns for their families’ safety
US President Donald Trump on Monday said Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has agreed to allow members of Iran’s national soccer team currently in Australia to remain in the country after the two leaders spoke earlier on Monday.
Trump made the claim in a post on Truth Social after criticising Australia for not granting asylum to the Iranian players.
“He’s on it!” Trump said of Albanese.
“Five [players] have already been taken care of, and the rest are on their way,” he added.
Trump also said that some players may still choose to return to Iran due to concerns about their families’ safety.
“Some, however, feel they must go back because they are worried about the safety of their families, including threats to those family members if they don’t return,” Trump said, praising Albanese’s response.
The controversy follows an incident last week when Iranian players refused to sing their national anthem before an Asian Cup match in Australia, a gesture widely interpreted as an act of defiance against the Islamic Republic.
According to a Times of Israel report, citing local media, five of the players have approached Australian police and are seeking asylum.
Canberra has so far declined to comment on whether it will grant asylum to the footballers.
Trump’s remarks come even as his administration has deported migrants back to Iran over the past year, including in the weeks leading up to the ongoing US-Israeli war against the Islamic Republic.
With inputs from agencies
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