Iran women's football team return home days after seeking asylum in Australia

The Iranian women's football team safely returned home from Australia, days after claiming asylum on humanitarian grounds. 5 players withdrew their claim despite earlier fears of persecution amid rising geopolitical tensions.

The Iranian women’s football team crossed the Turkish border into Iran on Wednesday, completing a fraught return journey from Australia after five members withdrew the asylum claims they had lodged there.

Australia had granted humanitarian visas to six players and one support staff member after they sought asylum, citing fears of possible persecution if they returned to Iran.

Concerns over their safety had surfaced earlier this month when several players did not sing the national anthem during a Women’s Asian Cup match, shortly after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran. Iranian state television subsequently labelled them “wartime traitors”.

The team, which flew into Istanbul on Tuesday, travelled onward to Igdir in eastern Turkey on Wednesday morning.

Players were seen leaving Igdir Airport with their luggage before boarding a bus to the border. One briefly smiled and waved at a TV camera before departure. After a journey of around two hours, they cleared passport control at the Gurbulak Border Gate and crossed into Iran.

The team’s Asian Cup campaign had begun just as the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, reportedly killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. They were eliminated from the tournament more than a week ago.