March 3: Australian midfielder Amy Sayer has lauded the courage of Iran's women's football team for competing in the Asian Cup while their homeland faces intense political unrest and military strikes.
Iran is set to play Australia in their second group-stage match on Thursday. The team delivered a spirited performance against South Korea, playing after U.S. and Israeli air strikes began targeting their country over the weekend.
"It's a difficult situation and it's really brave of them to be able to be here and to perform," Sayer stated. "They put on a really strong performance, even with the political climate that's going on."
Sayer added, "The best we can do to contribute is to just give them the best game of football that we're able and to show them the respect on the field. Hopefully, the situation improves and they can keep staying safe in Australia."
Iran's players stood respectfully but remained silent during their national anthem before the South Korea match. The team and head coach declined to comment on the situation or the reported death of their leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
"They are another team in the tournament," Sayer commented. "Of course, we are all kind humans, and we can give them a 'hello' and a 'good luck' to wish them well."
The 24-year-old Sayer is expected to play a larger role in Thursday's match.