Protesting against the ongoing detention of football player Hakeem Al-Araibi, the Football Federation Australia has cancelled a proposed trip to Thailand as the under 23 men's national team prepares for its AFC U23 Championship qualifiers in March.

The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press statement yesterday in which it said that Thailand had previously not been aware of Hakeem's case and does not have any prejudice against him.

Lucy Zelić, SBS Television Chief Football Host and SBS World News Sports Presenter, wrote a tweet yesterday saying she had sent a letter to the Thai prime minister calling him to release Hakeem Al-Araibi and urging him to allow his return to Australia as soon as possible.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne has reiterated Australia's deep concerns over Thailand's detention of a Melbourne-based refugee footballer in a meeting with senior Thai government figures, reported SBS News.

Radha Stirling, the founder of Detained in Dubai, said: “Great news that Thailand has allowed the UN to assess Rahaf rather than sending her back to the country from which she was seeking asylum. Thailand needs to allow Hakeem to return to Australia and stop Bahrain’s legal abuse.”

Human rights groups along with current and former soccer players on Saturday called on FIFA and the Australian government to intervene to stop a Melbourne-based refugee and semi-professional soccer player being extradited from Thailand to Bahrain.

former Bahrain international footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi told media outlets and activists that Thai and Bahraini governments are working together to extradite him so that he'd be tortured in Bahrain, despite having the right to political asylum in Australia.