Two additional members of the Iranian women’s soccer squad have been given asylum in Australia before their teammates departed, as stated by Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke on Wednesday. The duo has now joined the five players who were granted humanitarian visas a day earlier, according to Burke’s remarks in Canberra. One of the recent recipients was a player, while the other was a staff member, both opting for asylum prior to the team’s departure from Sydney back to Iran late Tuesday amidst tense protests by Iranian Australians expressing concerns for the safety of the women in Iran.
The departure of the team took place amid a challenging atmosphere with protests at both the team’s hotel and the airport. The flight eventually left late Tuesday, with the women individually taken aside by Australian officials and interpreters during border security checks. They were presented with asylum offers, allowing them to contact their families in Iran to discuss the option. Despite the choice being offered, no additional members of the delegation decided to stay in Australia. Those who accepted asylum were granted temporary humanitarian visas with a potential pathway to permanent residency, while some members were ineligible due to ties with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
The Iranian team had arrived in Australia for the Women’s Asian Cup before the onset of the Iran conflict on February 28. After being eliminated from the tournament over the weekend, the women faced the prospect of returning to a country under attack. Iranian groups in Australia had campaigned to prevent the women from leaving after a controversy surfaced when the players refrained from singing the national anthem at the start of the tournament. However, they later sang and saluted the anthem before subsequent matches. The official squad list included 26 players alongside coaching and support staff.
Minister Burke defended Australia’s stance, emphasizing that the country’s intention was not to coerce decisions from the individuals. He dismissed criticism suggesting that more should have been done to halt the women’s departure, stating that such actions were not in line with Australia’s values. Footage circulated showing one of the women being guided by teammates from the hotel to the bus, with Burke noting that any potential coercion would be addressed by local law enforcement. The Iranian team had garnered significant support in Australia during their tournament run, with a prominent football club in Brisbane extending an invitation for the asylum-seeking women to train with their team.