Soccer-Italy Underwhelmed by Trump Envoy’s Suggestion They Should Replace Iran at World Cup
By Mitch Phillips and Nick Mulvenney
April 22 (Reuters) - The suggestion that Iran should be replaced by Italy at this year's World Cup drew a mix of embarrassment and apathy from Azzurri fans on Thursday, with Italian media reminding readers...
Soccer-Iran Women Players Thank Australian Government For Protection
MELBOURNE, April 17 (Reuters) - Iranian women's soccer players Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh thanked the Australian government on Friday for offering a "safe haven" and said they wished to resume their sporting careers after rebuilding...
Infantino Promises FIFA Backing for Iran to Play At World Cup
March 31 (Reuters) - FIFA president Gianni Infantino threw his support behind Iran's World Cup preparations on Tuesday, attending their 5-0 friendly win over Costa Rica in Turkey even as their tournament participation is in limbo due...
Former Iranian Water Polo Player Soleimani Distraught Over Wrestler’s Execution
By Iain Axon
March 20 (Reuters) - Reza Soleimani, a former Iranian water polo player, said he was devastated after learning that 19-year-old wrestler Saleh Mohammadi had been executed for his alleged role in anti-government protests in Iran.
Iran executed three...
Soccer-Asian Football Confederation Has Received No Notification From Iran on World Cup Withdrawal
KUALA LUMPUR, March 16 (Reuters) - The Asian Football Confederation said on Monday it has not received any notification from Iran that it will withdraw its national soccer team from the World Cup.
Iran have qualified for the 48-team tournament...
Former Afghan Captain Popal Backs Iran Players’ Asylum Bid, Calls for More Support
By Lucy Thomson
March 11 (Reuters) - The former captain and founding member of Afghanistan's women's football team, Khalida Popal, has praised the courage of Iranian women footballers who sought asylum in Australia, while calling on FIFA and...
Five Iranian Women’s Soccer Players Granted Humanitarian Visas in Australia
By Praveen Menon and Katharine Jackson
SYDNEY/WASHINGTON, March 10 (Reuters) - Australia on Tuesday granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women soccer players after they sought asylum, fearing persecution on their return home for their refusal to sing the...
Trump Calls on Australia to Give Asylum to Iranian Women’s Soccer Players
WASHINGTON, March 9 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he had spoken to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about the Iran women's soccer team after reports that five players had sought asylum in Australia.
Iran's semi-official Fars news agency...
Players’ Union Raises Alarm Over Safety of Iran Women’s Soccer Team After Asian Cup...
By Christine Chen
SYDNEY, March 9 (Reuters) - Global players' union FIFPRO said on Monday there were serious concerns for the welfare of the Iranian women's soccer team, as they prepared to return home after being labelled "wartime traitors" for...
Soccer-Iran Players Labelled ‘Wartime Traitors’ After Anthem Silence in Asian Cup Opener
March 6 (Reuters) - An Iranian state television presenter has labelled the women's national soccer team as "wartime traitors" after the players did not sing their national anthem before their Asian Cup opener against South Korea in...
