Kabul: The Afghanistan women’s football team were among the 75 people evacuated from Kabul on Tuesday. The security of the players was allegedly in danger since the Taliban took political control over the whole country.
Formed in 2017, the team was perceived as an act of political defiance against Taliban, as women playing sports is not allowed in Afghanistan. FIFPRO, a global organisation supporting professional footballers, thanked the Australian government for arranging the evacuation of not only the players but also their family members and the team management.
“These young women, both as athletes and activists, have been in a position of danger and on behalf of their peers around the world we thank the international community for coming to their aid,” FIFPRO said in a statement.
Former Afghanistan captain Khalida Popal was with the FIFPRO team that worked with six countries including Australia, the US and United Kingdom for evacuating the athletes from the country. She said, “The last few days have been extremely stressful but today we have achieved an important victory.”
FIFPRO General Secretary Jonas Baer-Hoffmann described the process as, “An incredibly complex process. Our hearts go out to all the others who remain stranded in the country against their will.”
