As many as seven members of a Cuban national soccer team are reported to have defected in the United States shortly after playing a match in the U.S. state of Florida.

據報導，7名古巴國家足球隊隊員在美國佛羅里達州打完一場球賽后不久逃離了他們的球隊。

Five of the players said they abandoned their team at a hotel in Tampa Tuesday night and plan to seek political asylum in the United States. The coach and teammates from Cuba's under-23 team said the five disappeared shortly after playing a qualification match for the upcoming summer Olympics in Beijing.

5名球員說，他們星期二晚間在坦帕的一家酒店離開了他們的球隊，計劃在美國尋求政治避難。這支由年齡23歲以下的隊員組成的球隊的教練和隊員們說，5名隊員在參與即將到來的在北京舉行的奧運會資格賽比賽后不久去向不明。

The Miami Herald online publication has reported two more Cuban players defected Wednesday, bringing the total to seven. The paper says its information comes from sources close to the players.

邁阿密先驅報網絡版報導說，星期三又有2名古巴隊員叛逃，使叛逃的人數達到7人。邁阿密先驅報報導說，他們從跟隊員接近的人那里獲得這些消息。

The five players who deserted the squad Tuesday, told U.S. media they hope to establish themselves in the country and play professional soccer. A local team, Miami FC, said they will try out for it.

5名在星期二離開球隊的隊員對美國媒體說，他們希望能夠在美國生活，踢職業足球。當地的邁阿密聯合球隊說，他們將試試看是否行得通。

Groups such as the Cuban American National Foundation in Miami often seek to help Cuban performers and doctors to defect while they are on missions outside the country.

在邁阿密，像古巴裔美國人全國基金會這樣的組織經常致力于幫助在外國執行工作任務的古巴演員和醫生叛逃。

The group's human rights director, Omar Lopez Montenegro, says they reached out to the Cuban soccer team during the trip but have not contacted the five.

這個組織的人權主管蒙特內格羅說，他們在古巴球隊前來參加比賽期間聯系了球隊，但是沒能同叛逃的5位隊員取得聯系。

He said many take the decision to defect to expand the opportunities for their career and their families.

蒙特內格羅說，許多人決定叛逃是為了給他們的職業和家庭擴展機會。

"When you are an athlete or a performer in Cuba, you are kind of a slave to the Cuban government. For example, athletes cannot negotiate their [own] contracts," he said.

他說：“如果你在古巴是一個運動員或演員，你就像是古巴政府的一個奴隸。比方說，運動員不能就他們的合同進行談判。”

Last December, a group of Cuban ballet dancers defected during a trip to Mexico, and a top Cuban television personality sought asylum after a visit to Canada. All of them are now pursuing their careers in Miami.

去年12月，一批古巴芭蕾舞演員在前往墨西哥的途中叛逃。后來，一名古巴電視臺的資深工作人員在訪問加拿大后尋求庇護。目前，他們中所有的人都在邁阿密為事業打拼。

U.S. law allows for Cuban immigrants who arrive on U.S. soil to apply for residency after living in the country for one year.

美國法律允許到達美國領土的古巴移民在美國居住一年后申請居住權。