Three Iranian Players Rejoin Team After Dropping Asylum Bid

Three members of Iran’s women’s national football team have withdrawn their requests for asylum in Australia after initially seeking protection over fears of punishment upon returning to Iran.

According to Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, two players and a member of the team’s support staff abandoned their asylum applications and were travelling to Malaysia to rejoin the rest of the squad. The broadcaster published a photo on Saturday that it said showed the women boarding a plane.

Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed the development in a statement on Sunday.

“Overnight, three members of the Iranian Women’s Football Team made the decision to join the rest of the team on their journey back to Iran,” Burke said. He added that Australian officials gave the players several opportunities to discuss their options before they confirmed their decision.

The Iranian team had travelled to Australia to take part in a football tournament at Gold Coast Stadium in Queensland. Their visit coincided with escalating conflict involving Iran after the United States and Israel launched attacks on the country on February 28. The initial strike reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei along with several other senior leaders.

Since the conflict began, an estimated 1,444 people have been killed across Iran. Among the dead were more than 170 people, most of them schoolgirls, who were inside a primary school in the southern city of Minab when it was hit during the violence.

Tensions around the team intensified earlier in the tournament when several Iranian players refused to sing the national anthem before their opening match. The act sparked criticism from Iranian state media. One IRIB presenter described the players as “traitors,” saying their actions represented the “pinnacle of dishonour” and that they should face severe consequences.

The comments raised concerns among international football organisations. FIFPRO, the global players’ union, called on FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation to take steps to protect the Iranian players after reports that Iranian officials were monitoring them while they were in Australia.

Amid those fears, five players, including team captain Zahra Ghanbari, reportedly left the team hotel late at night to seek asylum in Australia. Another player and a member of the support staff also filed asylum claims before the rest of the team departed Sydney earlier in the week.

However, one of the players withdrew her application earlier and reunited with her teammates, who were believed to be in Kuala Lumpur awaiting their return to Iran. According to Minister Burke, the player, later identified as Mohadese Zolfigol, reversed her decision after advice from teammates and was encouraged to contact the Iranian embassy.

Meanwhile, Iran’s football governing body has accused Australian authorities of abducting the players and pressuring them to abandon their country, claims that Australian officials have not supported.