Australia’s government has been urged to protect the Iran women’s football team after players were accused of being “traitors” on the nation’s state television.
The accusation came following their Asian Cup game against Australia on the Gold Coast on Thursday night, which the Matildas won 4-0.
The spectre of war has hung heavy over the Iran team since the Middle East nation was bombed by America and Israel on Saturday, before launching retaliatory strikes.
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The attack came as the women’s football team was flying Down Under to compete at the tournament.
Players have avoided speaking about it in the days since, for fear of retribution from the Islamic regime. Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei was killed in the strikes on Saturday but the conflict remains ongoing.
Iran players line up for national anthems prior to the game against Australia. Getty
On Monday, Iran players stood silently as the national anthem played, which was seen as a protest against the regime back home.
On Thursday night they took a slightly different approach, saluting while the anthem played. Some players sang.
On Friday morning, Iranian state TV presenter Mohammad Reza Shahbazi issued a threat to the players.
“Let me just say one thing: traitors during wartime must be dealt with more severely,” Shahbazi said, according to social media platform X’s translation.
“Anyone who takes a step against the country under war conditions must be dealt with more severely.
Iran players line up for national anthems prior to the game against Australia. Getty
“Like this matter of our women’s football team not singing the national anthem, and that photo that was published and so on, which I won’t get into. These people must be dealt with more severely.
“This is no longer just a symbolic protest move or the like. In a war situation, in this state of affairs, where they strike and martyr students and seven-to-eight-year-old girls in schools, where they attack the neonatal ward of a hospital, where they hit stadiums.
“For you to go there and not sing the national anthem; this is the pinnacle of dishonour and lack of patriotism. Both the people and the officials should treat these individuals as wartime traitors, not as if they just had a protest or performed a symbolic act.
“The stigma of dishonour and betrayal must remain on their foreheads, and separately they must be dealt with properly.”
The message is a chilling threat given treason can be punishable by death in Iran.
Australian-based Iran International TV correspondent Alireza Mohebbi believes players sang the national anthem on Thursday under instruction from the Iranian regime, and the security detail that is travelling with the team.
“It’s completely obvious that the Islamic Republic’s regime, and the security team which is with the players in Australia, forced them to sing and do the military salute,” Mohebbi told ABC News.
Independent Iranian journalist Ali Bornaei took to X to call on Australia’s foreign minister Penny Wong to act.
“In Iran, treason is a capital offence punishable by death,” Bornaei posted, tagging Wong.
“These athletes face arbitrary detention and execution if forced to return.
Anti-regime Iran protesters are seen outside the stadium prior to the Women’s Asian Cup match. Getty
“I urgently call on the Australian government to provide immediate asylum and protection for these brave women.
“Australia must not allow them to be sent back to a regime that views a silent protest as a crime worthy of the gallows.”
Outside the Gold Coast stadium on Thursday night, groups of protesters praised America and Israel for killing Khamenei, celebrating the supreme leader’s death.
The Iran team only has one game left in the Asian Cup, against the Philippines on Sunday night.