SYDNEY – Another member of Iran’s women’s soccer team has rejected Australia’s offer of asylum and will head back to Iran, according to Australian media reports released Monday.
Last week, Australia provided humanitarian visas to six players and one staff member from Iran’s national team after they requested protection due to concerns about potential persecution back home. Their worries stemmed from their refusal to sing Iran’s national anthem during a Women’s Asian Cup game.
On Sunday, three delegation members decided to reject the asylum opportunity. Combined with another team member who changed her mind the previous week, this leaves just two individuals remaining in Australia.
“This is a very complex situation,” Australian Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Matt Thistlethwaite said during a Sky News interview Monday.
Thistlethwaite explained that the government honors the choices of those returning to Iran while maintaining assistance for the two team members who have stayed in Australia.
According to Iran’s Football Association, the individuals declining Australia’s asylum protection plan to meet up with their teammates in Malaysia before departing for Tehran, where they will “to once again be embraced by their families and homeland.”
Iran’s Asian Cup participation began during the same period when U.S. and Israeli forces conducted airstrikes against Iran, resulting in the death of the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The team was knocked out of the competition one week ago.
U.S. President Donald Trump commended Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for permitting the women to remain, posting on social media that America stood ready to accept the players if Australia declined to do so.
