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Australia Grants Visas to Iranian Women Footballers
Five members of the Iran women’s national football team were granted humanitarian visas by Australia after safety concerns arose following their national anthem protest during the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
Zanjan, Zanjan Province, Iran by Unsplash
Five players from the Iran women’s national football team have received humanitarian visas from Australia following their exit from the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, Australian authorities confirmed.
Australian Immigration Minister Tony Burke said the footballers were relocated to a secure location with the assistance of police after indicating they wanted to remain in the country. He added that the rest of the team had also been informed that they could stay in Australia if they wished.
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The players had initially been expected to return to Iran after the tournament. However, concerns about their safety emerged after the team chose not to sing the national anthem before a match against the South Korea women’s national football team the previous week.
The decision drew criticism within Iran, where a conservative commentator labelled the team “wartime traitors” and called for severe punishment.
Burke confirmed that the five players who accepted humanitarian visas are Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Ghanbari, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramazanzadeh and Mona Hamoudi.
“They want it known that they are not political activists. They are athletes seeking safety,” Burke said, noting that discussions about their situation had taken place over several days.
In parliament, Burke said a police officer had been stationed at the team’s hotel and attempted to provide opportunities for players to ask for assistance. According to a source who spoke to SBS News, the players were reportedly not permitted to move around the hotel freely and were escorted to a conference room for meals.
On Monday it became clear that five players wanted to remain in Australia. They left their hotel that day and were transported by police to a secure location.
Soon after their departure, BBC reporters observed members of the delegation rushing through the hotel attempting to locate them, but the players had already left.
Burke later met the group at the safe location and approved their humanitarian visa applications, which were finalized at about 01:30 local time on Tuesday.
Australia’s humanitarian visa programme offers permanent protection to refugees and others in need of humanitarian assistance, allowing recipients to live, work and study in the country.
The rest of the team was taken to Gold Coast Airport and was expected to travel to Sydney later on Tuesday.
During the journey, the team’s coach was briefly halted by activists who tried to persuade the remaining players to stay in Australia. Some protesters lay on the road in an attempt to stop the vehicle while the players watched from inside the bus.
The situation also drew the attention of Donald Trump, who posted on Truth Social urging Australia to grant asylum to the players, adding that the United States would accept them if Australia declined.
Roughly an hour later, Trump said he had spoken with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and wrote that five players had already been assisted while the others were preparing to leave.
Trump also indicated that some players might fear consequences for relatives back in Iran and therefore feel they must return.
The Trump administration suspended asylum decisions late last year and stopped issuing immigrant visas for citizens from several countries, including Iran, saying the policy was intended to prevent abuse of the system.
In the previous year, two groups of Iranians whose asylum claims had been rejected were deported from the United States to Iran. Reports indicated that the deportations included members of the LGBT community, who can face serious legal and social penalties in Iran.
The Iranian team had been competing in the Asian Cup tournament in Brisbane, including a match against the Philippines women’s national football team on Sunday.
Unlike their earlier match against South Korea, where the players did not sing the anthem, they sang and saluted during the anthem in games against Australia and the Philippines. Critics suggested that government officials accompanying the delegation may have pressured them to do so.
During Sunday’s match, many members of Australia’s Iranian community in the crowd booed the anthem, which they said they did not recognize.
At one point during the first half, spectators raised the Lion and Sun flag used by Iran before the 1979 Islamic Revolution despite stadium rules permitting only the current official Iranian flag.
Although fans strongly supported the team throughout the match, there was little interaction between them and the players. In one moment, a player receiving treatment on the sideline blew a kiss toward the crowd, prompting loud cheers.
At the end of the match, the Philippine team remained on the field to acknowledge supporters, while the Iranian players left the pitch quickly.
Naz Safavi, who attended all three matches involving the Iranian team, said the players were unable to speak openly because of possible threats.
“We are here to show them we fully support them,” she said.
Former Craig Foster, a human rights advocate who helped Afghanistan’s women’s football team escape the Taliban in 2021, said many of the Iranian players have families and children in Iran and may feel unable to remain in Australia even if given the opportunity.
“What matters most is that the option is available,” he said.
After Sunday’s match, team manager Marziyeh Jafari said the squad was eager to return home.
“We are impatient to go back. Personally, I want to return to my country as soon as possible and be with my compatriots and family,” she said.
Editor’s Note:
This report is based on statements from the government of Australia and officials including Immigration Minister Tony Burke regarding humanitarian visas granted to members of the Iran women’s national football team during the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. Details regarding the players’ circumstances and potential consequences remain developing and may change as more information emerges.
