November 20, 2007	Tuesday	Ziqa’ad 09, 1428

BAGHDAD, Nov 19: Three members of Iraq’s Olympic football team and an assistant coach are seeking asylum in Australia. Iraq’s football federation secretary-general, Tariq Ahmed, said on Monday that the four disappeared at dawn on Sunday from the home of colleagues in Australia, where they were staying after playing Australia’s Olympic team.

They did not show up at the airport for their scheduled departure with the rest of their team a few hours later, he said. The assistant coach, Saadi Toma, later phoned team officials and told them he and the three players – identified as Ali Mansour, Ali Khidhayyir and Ali Abbas – were seeking asylum in Australia, Ahmed said.

“It’s because of the deteriorated security situation and violence against athletes in Iraq,” Ahmed said. “We all face the same danger, but it doesn’t mean one should so easily abandon his team and defame his country’s reputation.”

A spokeswoman for Australian Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with government rules, said the players were still holding valid visas and had not applied for asylum in Australia. Regular visas are for three months, so the players would have some time before they need to submit asylum applications. She refused to identify the players.

On Saturday, Australia beat the Iraqi team 2-0 in a qualifying round ahead of the Beijing Olympics, which begin next August. Iraq are scheduled to play Lebanon and Syria this week.—AP