Canberra, Australia. Australia on Tuesday granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women footballers after they sought asylum, saying they feared persecution if they returned home following their refusal to sing the national anthem at an Asia Cup match.
Government decision and leaders’ statements
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said at a news conference in Canberra that police had helped extract the women from their Iranian government handlers a day earlier. He said the players were safe in Australia and should feel at home.
U.S. President Donald Trump praised Albanese on social media for allowing the women to stay, and said the United States was ready to take the players if Australia did not.
Players identified and security measures
Australian officials identified the players as Zahra Sarbali Alishah, Mona Hamoudi, Zahra Ghanbari, Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanizadeh. Officials said they were staying at an undisclosed location under police protection.
Options for other team members
Albanese said help was also available to other players currently in Australia with the Iranian national team, but said it was up to them to accept.
Television footage showed several other Iranian players leaving their hotel in the northeastern city of Gold Coast on a bus on Tuesday afternoon. It was not clear which players were on the bus or where they were going.
Home Affairs Minister’s comments
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke posted pictures on his X account showing him posing with the five players after granting their visas. Burke said the government had been in secret talks with the players for days, and said fleeing was a difficult decision for them.
He said that while the offer remained open to other team members, it was possible and likely that not every woman on the team would decide to take up the opportunity Australia offered.
What do you think Australia’s decision could mean for other Iranian players currently in the country?
