US EditionAnother 3 members of Iran’s women’s soccer team decide against staying in Australia as refugees
Four of seven Iranian women footballers granted asylum in Australia have withdrawn their applications and are returning home amid political pressure, Australian officials said.
- On Friday, coach Marziyeh Jafari said state TV comments affected Iran women's national football team players psychologically and drove some to seek asylum in Australia.
- After players stood silent during the anthem before the first match against South Korea, Mohammad Reza Shahbazi, IRIB presenter, labelled them 'wartime traitors'.
- Australia this week granted humanitarian protection visas to five Iranian players, while two more squad members received asylum on Wednesday and one chose to return to Iran.
- Australian police called the players one-on-one to persuade them to stay, but Jafari said most refused while Mohaddeseh Zolfi later reversed her decision and will return.
- Advocates note the broader visa backlog and said rapid subclass 866 visa grants for footballers highlight distress amid more than 24,000 applications lodged in 2024-25 and 4,000 approvals in 2024-25, including 462 of Iranian citizenship.
165 Articles
165 Articles
The Herald Palladium
Iran women's football captain withdraws Australia asylum bid: state media
The captain of the Iranian women's football team which played in the Asian Cup in Australia has withdrawn her bid for asylum, state media said Sunday, making her the fifth member of the delegation to change her mind.
Four more members of Irans womens soccer team withdraw Australia asylum claims
Four more members of the Iranian women s soccer squad withdrew their asylum requests to the Australian government after facing pressure from Tehran, two sources close to the team have said. MORE..
Two players from Iran’s women’s soccer team and a member of the technical corps withdrew their asylum request in Australia, Iranian state media reported. The group was part of the delegation that recently contested the Asian Cup on oceanic territory. Originally, seven members of the delegation – six footballers and a technical analyst – had sought refuge, after being identified in their country as “traitors in time of war,” because they refused …
The saga surrounding the Iranian women's national football team continues. Two players and a staff member are now returning home after all, having applied for asylum. Last night, they departed from Australia for Malaysia, intending to travel on to Tehran.
Zara Soltan Meshkehkar, Mona Hamoudi and Zara Sarbali - three other members of the Iranian women's football team who were granted humanitarian visas to stay in Australia - have changed their minds and will return home. "Australians should be proud that these women have experienced a country that offers them real choice, and that they have spoken to authorities who want to help them," the Australian Home Affairs Minister said.
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