Seven members of the ladies’s soccer delegation had sought sanctuary in Australia
Members of Iran’s girls’s soccer crew who didn’t declare asylum in Australia arrived on the Kuala Lumpur Worldwide Airport on March 11, 2026. Photograph: AFP
SYDNEY:
Iranian girls footballers claiming asylum in Australia evacuated from their secure home on Wednesday after one crew member modified her thoughts and revealed their location to the Iranian embassy, Canberra mentioned.
Seven members of Iran’s visiting girls’s soccer delegation had sought sanctuary in Australia after they had been branded “traitors” at dwelling for refusing to sing the nationwide anthem.
However one member of the group had second ideas after chatting with different gamers who had turned down asylum in favour of returning to Iran, Australian House Affairs Minister Tony Burke mentioned.
The girl uncovered the situation of the opposite aslyum seekers when she contacted Iran’s embassy in Australia.
“On account of that it meant the Iranian embassy now knew the situation of the place all people was,” Burke mentioned. “I instantly gave them directions for individuals to be moved and that has been handled instantly.”
Australian officers had “made certain this was her resolution”, Burke mentioned.
There have been fears male minders travelling with the crew would possibly attempt to forestall them looking for asylum.
Change of coronary heart
Burke mentioned every participant was separated from the squad at Sydney Airport and given time to mull the provide in personal.
The last-minute change of coronary heart might inflame an already tense state of affairs between Iran and Australia.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has lauded the bravery of the ladies, vowing they might be welcomed with open arms.
However Iran’s governing soccer physique has accused Australia of kidnapping the gamers and forcing them to forsake their dwelling nation towards their will.
Iranian gamers fell silent because the nationwide anthem performed forward of a match match in Australia final week, an act seen as an emblem of defiance towards the Islamic republic.
A presenter on Iranian state TV branded the gamers “wartime traitors”, fuelling fears they confronted persecution, or worse, in the event that they returned dwelling.
5 gamers, together with captain Zahra Ghanbari, slipped away from the crew lodge underneath the quilt of darkness to say asylum in Australia.
Two extra crew members — a participant and a assist staffer — had been granted asylum earlier than the crew flew out of Sydney on Tuesday night.
It was not instantly clear which of the seven had modified her thoughts.
The Asian Soccer Confederation mentioned the remainder of the Iranian squad had been at an unnamed lodge in Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur whereas awaiting the subsequent leg of their lengthy journey dwelling.
The governing physique mentioned it might “present all vital assist to the crew throughout their keep till their onward journey preparations are confirmed”.
‘Strict surveillance’
Iranian-Australian migration agent Naghmeh Danai spoke to 5 gamers earlier this week to debate their choices to remain in Australia.
“They had been underneath numerous strain right here. They didn’t have permission to speak to anybody,” she informed AFP on Wednesday.
“Underneath strict surveillance from the Iranian authorities officers throughout the crew as crew leaders or inside safety,” she mentioned.
“Underneath strict surveillance from the Iranian authorities officers throughout the crew as crew leaders or inside safety,” she mentioned.
Though the aspect sang Iran’s anthem — an ode to the glory of the Islamic republic — in later matches, human rights activists warned the injury was carried out.
“The members of the Iranian Girls’s Nationwide Soccer Workforce are underneath important strain and ongoing menace from the Islamic Republic,” mentioned Reza Pahlavi, the son of the late shah of Iran.
“I name on the Australian authorities to make sure their security and provides them any and all wanted assist,” he mentioned on social media.
