US EditionFive Iranian women's soccer players to seek asylum in Australia after leaving team's handlers: Report
Five players sought asylum on Australia's Gold Coast fearing persecution after being labeled 'wartime traitors' for anthem silence, with over 66,000 signing a petition, FIFPRO said.
- Reza Pahlavi named the five players who left the training camp on March 9, 2026, seeking refuge in Australia: Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Ghanbari, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramazanzadeh, and Mona Hamoudi.
- Refusing to sing the national anthem triggered the controversy as Iran's women's national football team initially protested, while Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting labelled them 'wartime traitors'; tensions rose after air strikes on Feb. 28.
- At the Gold Coast stadium, players signalled 'help' in sign language from inside their team bus as supporters surrounded and briefly blocked it, chanting and waving pre-1979 Lion and Sun flags after Iran's elimination on Sunday, March 8, 2026.
- FIFPRO, global players' union, said it could not contact the squad and voiced serious welfare concerns as more than 66,000 petition signatories urged Australia not to return the players.
- A small window at the airport may allow asylum claims despite heavy monitoring, but it is unclear if players will accept due to possible repercussions for players' families, experts and advocates including Amnesty International said.
249 Articles
249 Articles
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kwak Min-seo = Iran is seeking asylum in Australia after the women's national soccer team players remained silent during the national anthem during the women's Asian Cup match. Australia...
After refusing to sing the national anthem, Iranian footballers were subjected to attacks of any kind. Two new members sought asylum in Australia to avoid returning to their country.
The Daily Courier
At least five Iran women footballers take asylum in Australia
At least five players from Iran's visiting women's football team claimed asylum in Australia on Tuesday, seeking protection after they were branded "traitors" at home for refusing to sing the national anthem.
Members of the Australian Iranian community tried to block the bus route that was to transport the last players of Iran's women's football team to the airport. The protesters chanted "Save our daughters" and called on the police to intervene, fearing that the players would be punished in their country for refusing to sing the national anthem during the Asian Cup. Five players, including Captain Zahra Ghanbari, escaped from the team's hotel under…
Fearing a return to Iran, five female soccer players have sought and been granted asylum in Australia after participating in the Asian Cup tournament. And if they can even think about soccer, they can...
Fearing reprisals upon their return to Iran, they were placed under protection and obtained a humanitarian visa. ...
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