The Afghanistan women's football team is celebrating after being successfully evacuated from Kabul.
Global football players' union FIFPRO praised the Australian government in a statement for helping to evacuate the players, officials, and their families from Afghanistan in the wake of the Taliban's takeover, Daily Mail reports.
"These young women, both as athletes and activists, have been in a position of danger, and on behalf of their peers around the world we thank the international community for coming to their aid," the union said in a statement.
Prior to the women's team's evacuation, their former captain encouraged them to burn their kits:"The last few days have been extremely stressful but today we have achieved an important victory," former team captain Khalida Popal said.
A team of FIFPRO lawyers and advisors which included Popal worked with six nations to ensure the safe evacuation of the female players.
Afghanistan's female football team was established back in 2007 as an act of political defiance against the old Taliban regime.
When the Taliban rose to power again this month, members of the team were advised to delete their social media posts for their own protection.
"The women footballers have been brave and strong in a moment of crisis and we hope they will have a better life outside Afghanistan," Popal said.
Female football players are pictured below in Kabul in 2017.
FIFPRO general secretary Jonas Baer-Hoffmann described the evacuations as "an incredibly complex process."
"Our hearts go out to all the others who remain stranded in the country against their will," he said.
The women's evacuation comes after Taliban spokesman Dr. Suhail told Sky News that there would be consequences if the US's evacuation of Afghanistan was not completed by August 31.
"It's a red line. President Biden announced that on 31 August they would withdraw all their military forces. So if they extend it that means they are extending occupation while there is no need for that," he said.
"If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations - the answer is no. Or there would be consequences. It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation it will provoke a reaction."