Celtics offense shuts down late in Game 5 during 113-97 loss to 76ers
Celtics offense falters late, losing 113-97 to 76ers in Game 5
The Afghan women's refugee team, Afghan Women United, is now eligible for international competitions after FIFA amended its regulations. They can participate in the qualification for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, despite missing the chance for the 2027 Women's World Cup.
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An Afghanistan women's refugee team has been granted eligibility for international competitions, some five years after national team players fled their country's Taliban rule. The FIFA Council, meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, agreed on Tuesday to amend its regulations to recognize the refugee team, which plays under the name Afghan Women United. While it is too late for the refugee team to try to qualify for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil, it could participate in qualification for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. âWe are proud of the beautiful journey initiated by Afghan Women United, and with this initiative we aim to enable them, as well as other FIFA member associations that may not be able to register a national or representative team for a FIFA competition, to make the next step, in coordination with the relevant confederation,â FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement. The first move toward recognition came last October, when the Afghan refugees played in a tournament that included Chad, Libya and Tunisia in Morocco. That event followed years of lobbying on the team's behalf by players, former captain and activist Khalida Popal and human rights groups. There are more than 80 Afghan refugee players scattered across Australia, the United States and Europe. Two camps were recently held for the women, one in England and another in Australia. The team, coached by Pauline Hamill, is expected to play a pair of exhibitions during the upcoming June international window against opponents to be determined. The Afghan womenâs team played its last competitive match in 2018. The Taliban, an Islamic fundamentalist group, shut down all women's sports when it returned to power in 2021. The players fled Afghanistan, fearing persecution. Even before the demise of the team, the Afghan soccer federation was under investigation for misconduct involving the womenâs program, including allegations of rape and physical abuse. Keramuddin Keram, the federation president, was banned for life by FIFA. Discrimination is not allowed under FIFA regulations, but the Afghan federation hasnât been suspended from international soccer despite failing to acknowledge the womenâs team. \\_ AP soccer:
FIFA's recognition allows the Afghan women's refugee team to compete internationally, providing opportunities for players who fled Taliban rule and promoting gender equality in sports.
The team is expected to play exhibition matches during the upcoming June international window, with future participation in the 2028 Olympics qualification.
The players fled Afghanistan due to fears of persecution and the Taliban's ban on women's sports after their return to power in 2021.
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