Three members of Iran’s women’s soccer team who had sought asylum in Australia have elected to return to their home country this weekend, the Australian government has announced.
“Overnight, three members of the Iranian Women’s Football Team made the decision to join the rest of the team on their journey back to Iran,” Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced in a statement on March 15.
Last week, Australia’s government granted humanitarian visas to six players and a support staff member on Iran’s women’s soccer team, amid concerns they would face persecution upon returning to their home country following the Asian Cup soccer tournament in Australia. Those persecution concerns were fueled by comments from an Iranian state media presenter, who referred to members of the team as “wartime traitors” after they declined to sing Iran’s national anthem during one of their Asian Cup matches.
The Asian Cup games commenced on March 1, one day after U.S. and Israeli forces launched strikes on Iran.
Iranian forces have responded to the initial U.S. and Israeli strikes by launching drones and missiles at targets across the Middle East.
The Iranian soccer team was eliminated from the Asian Cup games following their loss on March 8.
Trump raised further concerns that members of the team were compelled to return due to threats to their family members still in Iran.
In a March 10 statement, Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref denied Trump’s claims that members of the Iranian soccer team or their families were at risk.
“Iran welcomes its children with open arms, and the government guarantees their security,” Aref said.
Most of the 26 players on the Iranian team’s roster elected to leave Australia shortly after their elimination from the Asian Cup games. Those members of the team who have left Australia have since relocated to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Another of the Iranian players who was granted asylum elected to leave Australia earlier this week. Of the seven who originally accepted asylum offers, four have now left Australia to join the rest of their teammates in Malaysia.
“While the Australian Government can ensure that opportunities are provided and communicated, we cannot remove the context in which the players are making these incredibly difficult decisions,” Burke said on Sunday.