women’s soccer players
Five members of the women’s soccer team competing in the Women’s Asian Cup in Australia have been granted humanitarian visas, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Tuesday, confirming he took an early-morning call from US President about the matter. Supporters had been urging the Australian government to offer the women refuge over fears they’d be persecuted at home for failing to sing the national anthem before their first match last Monday.
Albanese said officials had been working for some time on the matter, and the women had been moved to a safe location – an offer that had been extended to the remaining players on the team. “We’re willing to provide assistance to other women in the team, noting that this is a very delicate situation, and it is up to them, but we say to them, if you want our help, help is here, and we will provide that,” Albanese said during Tuesday’s news conference.
