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.

据报导，7名古巴国家足球队队员在美国佛罗里达州打完一场球赛后不久逃离了他们的球队。

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名球员说，他们星期二晚间在坦帕的一家酒店离开了他们的球队，计划在美国寻求政治避难。这支由年龄23岁以下的队员组成的球队的教练和队员们说，5名队员在参与即将到来的在北京举行的奥运会资格赛比赛后不久去向不明。

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.

迈阿密先驱报网络版报导说，星期三又有2名古巴队员叛逃，使叛逃的人数达到7人。迈阿密先驱报报导说，他们从跟队员接近的人那里获得这些消息。

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名在星期二离开球队的队员对美国媒体说，他们希望能够在美国生活，踢职业足球。当地的迈阿密联合球队说，他们将试试看是否行得通。

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.

在迈阿密，像古巴裔美国人全国基金会这样的组织经常致力于帮助在外国执行工作任务的古巴演员和医生叛逃。

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.

这个组织的人权主管蒙特内格罗说，他们在古巴球队前来参加比赛期间联系了球队，但是没能同叛逃的5位队员取得联系。

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

蒙特内格罗说，许多人决定叛逃是为了给他们的职业和家庭扩展机会。

"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.

他说：“如果你在古巴是一个运动员或演员，你就像是古巴政府的一个奴隶。比方说，运动员不能就他们的合同进行谈判。”

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，一批古巴芭蕾舞演员在前往墨西哥的途中叛逃。后来，一名古巴电视台的资深工作人员在访问加拿大后寻求庇护。目前，他们中所有的人都在迈阿密为事业打拼。

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.

美国法律允许到达美国领土的古巴移民在美国居住一年后申请居住权。