Iraq soccer players seek Australia asylum

November 19, 2007 05:58am
THREE Iraqi soccer players secretly left their team hotel in Australia hours after playing a weekend Olympic qualifying match and plan to seek asylum, an Iraqi soccer official said today.
Midfielder Ali Abbas, one of the heroes of Iraq's stunning Asian Cup triumph in July, was among the three who planned to seek asylum in Australia, said Iraqi Football Association Assistant Secretary Tariq Ahmed.
The other two players were identified as Ali Mansur and Ali Khadher. Assistant coach Sadi Toma had also gone missing with the three players, Mr Ahmed said.
"The players secretly took their passports at about 3am Australian time, a few hours before they were due to leave," Mr Ahmed said in Baghdad.
Mr Toma had contacted team officials in Australia overnight and told them the players would seek asylum.
LinkHere