CANBERRA, Australia: A member of Iran’s women’s national soccer team who initially sought asylum in Australia has reversed her decision and opted to return to Iran, Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said on Wednesday.
The development comes amid a series of asylum requests from members of the Iranian delegation during their participation in the Women’s Asian Cup in Australia, according to Reuters.
Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, Burke revealed that two additional members of the Iranian delegation — a player and a support staff member — had approached Australian authorities seeking assistance to remain in the country.
However, one of them later reconsidered after speaking with teammates who had already left and decided to return to Iran.
“In Australia, people have the freedom to change their minds and travel as they choose,” Burke said, emphasizing that authorities respected the individual’s decision. Officials have not publicly disclosed the identity of the individual who chose to go back.
Earlier, five players from the Iranian women’s squad had been granted asylum by Australian authorities after they reportedly sought protection due to concerns about their safety if they returned home. The requests emerged following growing tensions surrounding the team’s actions during the tournament.
Australian Federal Police reportedly assisted two additional members of the delegation — 21-year-old striker Mohaddeseh Zolfi and support staff member Zahra Soltan Moshkehkar — in separating from team minders so they could travel to Sydney and request protection.
Authorities have since moved the players who remain in Australia to a secure location after one member contacted the Iranian embassy, potentially revealing their whereabouts. The move was made as a precaution amid rising fears for the group’s safety.
Concerns intensified after Iranian state television reportedly labeled members of the team “wartime traitors” for refusing to sing the national anthem before a Women’s Asian Cup match earlier this month. The incident occurred at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions following U.S. and Israeli air strikes on Iran.
Australian officials had earlier separated the rest of the Iranian delegation from their government minders at Sydney Airport before informing them of their legal options.
Despite the opportunity to seek asylum, those who reached the airport ultimately chose to return to Iran. Burke said the Australian government ensured that all members of the team were given time and space to make their own decisions without pressure.
“Our priority was to guarantee that every individual could make their choice freely and with dignity,” he said during a media briefing in Canberra.
Several players reportedly raised concerns about the safety of family members back in Iran and inquired about whether Australia could help relatives leave the country. Burke noted that permanent residents can sponsor family members, but such processes depend on those relatives being able to depart Iran.
Meanwhile, protests broke out in Australia during the team’s stay. Members of the Iranian diaspora gathered outside the team’s hotel on the Gold Coast and later at Sydney Airport, demonstrating against the Iranian government and showing support for the players.
The Iranian team has since traveled to Kuala Lumpur as part of their journey back to Iran. Iranian authorities have stated that the remaining members of the delegation are welcome to return to the country “with peace and confidence,” according to local media reports.
The team’s participation in the Asian Cup coincided with escalating regional tensions and political turmoil, adding further complexity to the situation surrounding the players’ safety and future.
