FIFA, the governing body of soccer, announced on Friday that it has collaborated with the Qatari government to evacuate almost 100 football players from Afghanistan.

After US-led foreign forces departed and the Western-backed government collapsed, the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan's capital Kabul on August 15 and established a new government last month.

The players and their families were among the passengers that arrived on a flight from Kabul on Thursday, according to HE Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater, Assistant Foreign Minister and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The 8th passengers flight from Kabul just arrived in Qatar. This is the biggest flight thus far with 357 passengers on board and for the first time we have citizens from New Zealand ??. Also around 100 footballers & their families including female players are on board ?? pic.twitter.com/93ehot2urN

— لولوة الخاطر Lolwah Alkhater (@Lolwah_Alkhater) October 14, 2021

The group, which included female players, was assessed to be at the highest risk, FIFA said in a statement. Qatar was appreciated for its assistance and for ensuring the safe passage of the players and their families.

In a recent tweet, HE stated that the eighth Kabul passenger flight has arrived in Qatar, marking the largest flight yet with 357 passengers on board.

She added that the fight included around 100 footballers, including female players, as well as their families.

"The FIFA leadership has been closely coordinating with the government of Qatar since August on the evacuation of the group, and will continue to work closely on the safe evacuation of further members of the sporting family in the future," she added.

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Source: The Peninsula