Reality TV star Kim Kardashian and Leeds United football club owner Andrea Radrizzani helped former Afghanistan captain Khalida Popal fly 130 Afghan female footballers and their families from Pakistan to England on Thursday .
Copenhagen-based Popal led evacuation efforts for female athletes from Afghanistan after the Taliban took over the country in August.
Popal said in a tweet that Kardashian and her shapewear brand have paid for for charter flights, including teen players. Radrizzani said “we are honored to play our part” in the efforts in a statement on Twitter.
Popal said the effort is also supported by New York Rabbi Moshe Margaretten.
“Thank you @KimKardashian and @SKIMS from the bottom of my heart for generously donating all the funds for this flight,” Popal tweeted.
Popal, who was recognized by the global soccer players association FIFPRO for her rescue efforts, also thanked Radrizzani.
“Thank you @andrearadri, it is an honor and privilege to work with you and your wonderful and kind people. Together we are stronger” she tweeted.
In October, world football’s governing body FIFA said the evacuation of a second group of 57 refugees from Afghanistan involved women’s football and basketball, consisting mainly of women and children, was completed after negotiations.
Earlier this year, Australia evacuated more than 50 female Afghan female athletes and their dependents after lobbying by prominent figures in the sports world, while several players from the national football team. Afghanistan’s national female rock has been granted asylum in Portugal.
Taliban officials say they will not repeat the previous government’s draconian rule, which banned most girls from going to school and banned women from going out in public without a male guardian.
Reporting by Manasi Pathak in Bengaluru; Edited by Ana Nicolaci da Costa
