Popal urges FIFA, AFC to protect female athletes Iranian players labelled 'wartime traitors' by state TV Australia grants asylum to five Iranian players March 11 (Reuters) - The former captain and founding member of Afghanistan's women's football team, Khalida Popal, has praised the courage of Iranian women footballers who sought asylum in Australia, while calling on FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to do more to protect female athletes facing persecution.