Basketball Australia has cited participant security considerations for its choice to withdraw the lads’s nationwide workforce from an upcoming World Cup qualifier in Iran.
Following the defeat of Kazakhstan that sealed their spot in subsequent 12 months’s event, the Boomers had been on account of journey to Tehran and meet Iran on Tuesday (AEDT).
Instead, the aspect will return to Australia and await directions from FIBA as as to whether the match will likely be rescheduled elsewhere.
“Basketball Australia have conducted a thorough risk assessment in conjunction with relevant authorities and as a result we will not be sending any teams into Iran at this time,” an announcement learn.
A sequence of protests erupted in Iran following the dying of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was allegedly violently arrested by the nation’s Guidance Patrol in September for failing to put on her hijab correctly. She died in custody three days after falling right into a coma.
Currently, Iran is one in every of 19 international locations to which the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advises Australians to not journey.
“Protests continue around the country and there’s been an increase in the number of foreign nationals arrested,” DFAT’s recommendation reads.
“Medical evacuation may be difficult. If you’re in Iran, we recommend you leave. Airlines may cancel or reduce their operations to and from Iran at short notice.”
A consultant instructed AAP that Basketball Australia had knowledgeable FIBA of its security considerations previous to the present spherical of qualifiers.
Basketball Australia mentioned they might not have travelled to Iran no matter whether or not they had defeated Kazakhstan to substantiate their spot on the World Cup.
The choice to withdraw won’t have an effect on Australia’s qualification for the World Cup, set to be held throughout Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines from August subsequent 12 months.
Australia have gained all 9 of their video games on the street to the World Cup and are at the moment set to play Bahrain and Kazakhstan in February for the sixth spherical of qualifiers.
FIBA has been contacted for remark.
