THREE Iraqi soccer players and an assistant coach failed to leave Australia with their team after an Olympic qualifier at the weekend, an Australian soccer source said yesterday.

A spokeswoman for Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews confirmed this.

“They continue to hold a valid visa to be in Australia,” she said.

In April, two members of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s swim team sought asylum after competing at the World Swimming Championships. About 40 foreign athletes and officials sought asylum after participating in the Commonwealth Games last year.(SD-Agencies)