A bizarre soccer match between diplomats from two embassies of countries shunned by Australia has been branded as "sickening" by activists campaigning for Ukraine.
On Friday, staff from the Russian and Iranian embassies met for what the Russian embassy called a "friendly".
In undiplomatic parlance, the match between the representatives of the two countries heavily sanctioned by western countries might be called "Billy No Mates finds a friend".
"They are two regimes which are killing people daily, and the Australian public needs to be reminded of that," Stefan Romaniw, who chairs the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations, said.
The Russian embassy said the result was a draw. "Friendship has won," as the spokesman put it.
A post on Facebook from the Russian embassy said: "On 9 February, a friendly soccer match was held between the teams of the Russian and Iranian Embassies in Canberra.
"The sportive event, timed to mark the National Day of Iran and the Diplomats' Day in Russia, was attended by H.E. Ambassador Alexey Pavlovsky and H.E. Ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi."
Campaigners against the Russian invasion of Ukraine called the two countries a "murderous partnership".
The actions of the governments of both countries are opposed by the Australian government, Russia for the invasion and Iran for a series of acts, including developing nuclear weapons and, more recently, backing fighters attacking western shipping.
"The Albanese government is working deliberately and strategically to apply pressure on the Iranian regime for failing to uphold its international obligations, including its nuclear-related commitments," the federal government said last year.
Australia has sent military equipment to Ukraine to help it repel the invasion by Russia.
The "friendly" was condemned by Mr Romaniw of the Australian Federation of Ukranian Organisations.
"The sight of Russian and Iranian diplomats getting together for a game of soccer in our nation's capital is sickening," he said.
"There is nothing innocent about this soccer match, and Canberrans should be appalled by the dark, murderous partnership between Russia and Iran."
The Russian embassy said that the fixture was about sport and not politics. "Sport unites," a spokesman said.
"Russia and Iran maintain good and mutually beneficial relations both among themselves and with the countries of the world majority.
"No wonder, the two embassies maintain quite intensive contacts with the absolute majority of their colleagues in the Diplomatic Corps in Canberra," he said.
"Our diplomats in Canberra wanted to contribute in their way to international sport cooperation. Several Embassies already declared interest in participating in future events of this kind."
