Five Iran Players Given Asylum in Australia
Australia agreed to provide visas to five players from Iran's women's national football team after they sought asylum fearing persecution if they returned home.
The announcement came after U.S. President Donald Trump said he had spoken with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about the situation involving the Iran women’s national team, amid reports that some players had requested asylum while in Australia.
The remaining players are staying at a hotel on the Gold Coast, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke told a news conference, adding that the government had also offered the rest of the squad the chance to remain in Australia.
“I was able to tell five members of the Iranian women's football team that they are welcome to stay in Australia, that they are safe here, and they should feel at home here,” Burke said.
The Iranian women's national football team is in Australia for the Asian Cup tournament.
Players Leave Team Hotel
Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported that five players in Australia for the Asian Cup secretly left the team hotel accompanied by Australian police, and media reports said they were seeking help from the Australian government after “breaking free.”
Having initially posted on social media that Australia was “making a terrible humanitarian mistake” by allowing the team to be sent back to Iran, Donald Trump later said he had spoken with Albanese and that the Australian leader was “doing a very good job having to do with this rather delicate situation.”
Trump added that five members of the Iranian squad had already been taken care of, while the situation of the remaining players was still unfolding.
“Some, however, feel they must go back because they are worried about the safety of their families, including threats to those family members if they don’t return,” Trump said.
The Iranian team's campaign in the Asian Cup hosted by Australia began just as the United States and Israel launched air strikes on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Iran was eliminated from the tournament on Monday after a 2-0 loss to the Philippines.
In an earlier social media post, Trump said that members of the team would “likely be killed” if forced to return to Iran, adding: “The U.S. will take them if you won’t.”
FIFPRO Raises Concerns Over Players’ conditions
Global players' union FIFPRO said there were serious concerns about the welfare of the Iranian team after they were labelled “wartime traitors” for refusing to sing their national anthem before a match.
The players stood in silence during Iran’s anthem before their opening match against South Korea, which a commentator on Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting described as the “pinnacle of dishonour.”
Iranian media quoted Farideh Shojaei, vice president for women's affairs at the Iranian Football Federation, as saying the players had left the hotel through the back door accompanied by police.
“We have contacted the embassy, the football federation, the foreign ministry and anywhere possible to see what will happen,” Shojaei said.
“We have even spoken with the families of these five players.”
Iranian media identified the players as:
- Zahra Sarbali
- Mona Hamoudi
- Zahra Ghanbari
- Fatemeh Pasandideh
- Atefeh Ramazani-Zadeh
Reports said the rest of the squad remains in Australia.
Shojaei added that the team had planned to return to Iran via Dubai, but the United Arab Emirates had not allowed the travel.
Efforts are now expected to be made for the team to return through Malaysia and Turkey.
The Anthem Controversy
The Iranian team sang the national anthem and saluted before their second match against Australia, sparking concerns among human rights groups that the players may have been pressured by government officials.
Australia previously granted emergency humanitarian visas to more than 20 members of the Afghanistan women's cricket team after the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
