Members of the Iranian women’s soccer team were emotional as they prepared to leave Australia on Tuesday. At least seven of the players sought asylum in Australia to avoid returning to Iran due to fears of persecution.
One player decided at the last minute not to board the flight in Sydney, joining several teammates who had already been granted asylum. Another player also attempted to stay behind, though it was unclear if this was at the airport or earlier.
The remaining athletes, accompanied by chaperones, eventually boarded a flight bound for Malaysia. Reports indicated that some of them had tears in their eyes as they departed, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
Five players, namely Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Ghanbari, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramazanzadeh, and Mona Hamoudi, were granted humanitarian visas after fleeing their hotel on the Gold Coast. They had sought assistance from the Australian government following backlash in Iran for refusing to sing the national anthem at an Asia Cup match.
Meanwhile, the rest of the team took a bus from the hotel to Sydney's domestic airport. They later boarded another coach to the international terminal, with footage showing someone on the bus waving what appeared to be a torch.
Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that officials spoke to the remaining players before they left for Malaysia. He emphasized that the players were given the opportunity to make their own decisions, including speaking with their relatives.
The asylum requests came after President Trump urged Australia to offer safety to the players, warning of potential danger if they returned to Iran. Concerns for the players' safety arose when they remained silent during Iran's anthem at a match against South Korea, sparking speculation of government coercion.
Following their elimination from the tournament, Iranian fans protested at the stadium, chanting "Save our girls!" and trying to prevent the team coach from leaving. Activists reported seeing a player signaling "help" through a window as the bus departed.
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