“These players dreamed of playing football for Afghanistan and men just came and took that dream from them,” Popal said.
FIFA has declared it a priority to ensure equal access to soccer without discrimination.
But in Afghanistan’s case, it is just “monitoring the situation very closely,” according to its statement.
A spokesman for the Afghanistan Football Federation said the organization could do nothing to help because the women’s national team dissolved when the players fled the country — an assertion the players reject.
While working for Right to Dream, a soccer nonprofit, and Girl Power, her own nonprofit, she organized a petition, which has been signed by more than 175,000 people since publishing online in late July.
Persons:
” Popal, you’ve, Julie Elliott, Malala Yousafzai
Organizations:
FIFA, Afghanistan Football Federation
Locations:
Afghanistan, British