Five Iranian women's soccer players apply for asylum in Australia after fleeing team as supporters plead for action

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: CNN via WTOP

Five Iranian women’s soccer players apply for asylum in Australia after fleeing team as supporters plead for action

CNN
March 9, 2026, 3:04 AM


The Iranian players salute the national anthem before the Women's Asian Cup match with the Philippines at Gold Coast Stadium on March 08 2026.(Matthew Starling/SPP/Sipa USA)

Brisbane, Australia (CNN) — Amid fears over their safety, five members of the Iranian women’s soccer squad have sought asylum in Australia and and are currently safe with police, a source told CNN Sports.

Members of the Iranian team, who’ve been playing in the Women’s Asian Cup in Australia, are at the center of growing calls for their exit from the country to be blocked for fear of persecution in Iran, their home country that’s at war with the US and Israel under a new hardline supreme leader.

It comes after the team remained silent during the national anthem before their first group stage match last week – a decision that many fear will be punished by the Iranian regime.

According to sports journalist Raha Pourbakhsh, at least seven players left the team hotel with five of those having now applied for asylum with the Australian Federal Police. ... Pourbakhsh, who works for Iran International TV, told CNN that the families of three of those five players who are now safe with police had been threatened and said the whereabouts of at least two other players are unknown after they also left the team hotel.

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Read more: https://wtop.com/world/2026/03/five-iranian-womens-soccer-players-apply-for-asylum-in-australia-after-fleeing-team-as-supporters-plead-for-action/

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. 'They are safe here': five Iranian women footballers granted humanitarian visas in Australia

Five members of the Iranian women’s football team have been granted humanitarian visas in Australia, with the federal government offering assistance to other players.

The home affairs minister, Tony Burke, confirmed the dramatic offer on Tuesday morning, hours after US President Donald Trump posted about their plight on social media.
...
Burke said the players had been given assistance by the Australian Federal Police and had been given security clearance by Asio.
...
“I say to the other members of the team: the same opportunity is there. Australia has taken the Iranian women’s soccer team into our hearts.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/mar/09/iran-women-football-team-australia-asian-cup

I hope they didn't take Trump's feelings into account. I suppose it's a bonus if you decide to do something and Trump feels you're doing it for him.

[electric_blue68]

2. Good luck to them!

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. Two more Iranians seek asylum in Australia after football team flies out - reports

Two more members of the Iranian women’s football team have reportedly sought asylum in Australia after refusing to board a flight back to their home country after competing in the Women’s Asian Cup tournament.

A plane left Sydney airport on Tuesday night local time for Malaysia, reports said, with players and staff, ending a dramatic two days when five players were granted asylum after refusing to return home.

But that number rose to seven on Tuesday night, according to multiple reports, when two more members of the group decided to remain in Australia.

Reports said the squad left Sydney at 10.43pm local time on Malaysia Airlines flight MH140 bound for Kulala Lumpur but it was not clear what route they would take back to Iran after that because the country’s airspace is closed due to the Middle East conflict.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/mar/10/iran-womens-football-team-asylum-australia