Seven members of Iran’s women’s football team have sought asylum in Australia, while the rest of the squad has departed for Iran, raising concerns about potential punishment awaiting those who return home.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed Tuesday that Australia granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian players amid fears for their safety.
Sources familiar with the matter confirmed that two additional team members, a player and a staff member, have also requested asylum in Australia, bringing the total to seven.
The remaining team members have left Australia and are heading back to Iran, though their exact route and arrival time remain unclear.
Naija News reported earlier that Australia granted asylum to five Iranian women’s football players who feared returning home after they remained silent during the national anthem before their Asian Cup match.
The team competed in the Women’s Asian Cup in Australia.
Naija News gathered that Iranian state television labelled the players “wartime traitors” after they refused to sing the national anthem during their opening match, with a presenter threatening they must face severe consequences.
The players stood silently when Iran’s anthem played before their 3-0 loss to South Korea. An Iranian state broadcaster called their silence the “pinnacle of dishonour” and said they must be dealt with severely during wartime.
Iran is competing in the tournament while military conflict escalates at home following US and Israeli airstrikes that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
While the split within the Iranian squad highlights the difficult choice the players face, the risk of returning home is far greater. They have two options to choose from: either return home and face punishment or seek safety abroad by abandoning their families and careers in Iran.
Although those who have sought asylum face an uncertain future in Australia, while those who returned home may face interrogation or worse from Iranian authorities, angry about the anthem protests that gained international attention.
