Iranian women’s football team Return to Iran With Five Members withdrawing asylum claims in Australia

The Iranian women’s soccer team have begun making their way home from Malaysia, after five players withdrew their claims for asylum in Australia. The Asian Football Confederation says the players were in ‘high spirits’ as the team except two members boarded their flight, and the Iranian embassy has arranged the team’s journey, which is expected to see them return to Tehran.

AFC general secretary Windsor John said earlier he was not aware of the team’s travel plans after Oman as it had been arranged by the Iranian embassy, and said he would regularly check up on the players when they were back in Iran.

Concerns over the safety of the team first emerged after the players failed to sing the national anthem at a women’s Asian Cup match. Seven team members, including a player handler, were granted humanitarian visas by the Australian government fearing persecution if they returned to Iran. But five have since withdrawn their claims and opted to return home.

Esmail Baghaei, a spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry, said the country “[took] pride” in the footballers “who did not fall for the hypocritical temptation of Australian officials”, claiming that Australians are hypocrites “massacre Iranian girls in Minab, and at the same time become excited about taking photos with Iranian women footballers”.