Iranian women’s football players: Two more seek asylum in Australia after Asian Cup protest

Two more members of Iran’s women’s national football team have refused to board a flight home, taking the number of players seeking protection in Australia to seven.

One player and a team official waved goodbye to their departing teammates at Gold Coast Airport late Tuesday night before the squad boarded a plane bound for Kuala Lumpur about 10.45pm.

The pair have reportedly joined five teammates who were granted humanitarian visas by the Australian Government earlier this week after seeking asylum while in the country for the Asian Cup.

One paperwork is completed, it will mean seven women have remained in Australia on humanitarian visas, which will allow them to apply for permanent residency after about 12 months.

The dramatic airport scenes followed days of mounting fears about the players’ safety should they return to Iran.

Several members of the squad have been branded “traitors” by Iranian state media after refusing to sing the national anthem before their first Asian Cup match.

They later sang and saluted the anthem in the following two games.

The controversy sparked alarm among Iranian community advocates and supporters in Australia, who fear the women could face punishment if they returned home.

Earlier on Tuesday night, the rest of the team left their Gold Coast hotel under heavy police presence.

Footage showed Australian Federal Police surrounding a minibus as the players boarded, while supporters attempted to block the vehicle’s departure.

Some protesters sat on the ground in front of the bus, chanting: “Save our girls”.

The bus later arrived at Gold Coast Airport with a similar security presence.

The developments come just two days after the first five players sought protection in Australia.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke personally welcomed the women, Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Sarbali Alishah, Atefeh Ramezanizadeh, Mona Hamoudi and Zahra Ghanbari in Brisbane late Monday night after Australian Federal Police helped move them to a safe location.

Home Affairs officials finalised their visas at 1.30am on Tuesday.

“Once everything had been signed off last night, there were lots of photos, lots of celebrating, and then a spontaneous outcry of ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oi, oi, oi’. These women are great athletes, great people, and they’re going to feel very much at home in Australia,” Mr Burke told reporters early on Tuesday morning.

The Government has said the same offer remains available to any other members of the Iranian team who wish to seek protection.

Officials have made clear to the delegation that players can approach authorities if they want assistance.

In the days leading up to the asylum requests, members of the team were also seen signalling “SOS” hand gestures from the team bus on the Gold Coast, according to community sources.

The gestures, along with the anthem protest, heightened fears among supporters and advocates that the players could face repercussions if they returned to Iran.