Six Iranian women footballers granted asylum in Australia were forced to evacuate their safe house on Wednesday after a seventh member of the group reversed her decision and disclosed their location to the Iranian embassy in Canberra.
The seven women had sought sanctuary in Australia after being branded traitors at home for refusing to sing the national anthem before a match at the Asian Football Confederation Women’s Asian Cup. Five players, including captain Zahra Ghanbari, slipped away from their team hotel under the cover of darkness to initially request protection. Two further members, identified by Iranian media as player Mohaddeseh Zolfi and support staffer Zahra Soltan Meshkeh Kar, were granted visas before the remainder of the squad flew out of Sydney on Tuesday evening.
One of the seven subsequently changed her mind after consulting teammates who had already left the country and chose to return to Iran. In doing so, she contacted the Iranian embassy in Australia and revealed the group’s whereabouts.
“I immediately gave the instruction for people to be moved,” Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke told parliament on Wednesday, adding that the woman had been advised by teammates and her coach to contact the embassy.
Burke confirmed all remaining asylum seekers had been successfully relocated and that Australian officials had ensured the withdrawal was the woman’s own decision. Each player had been separated from the travelling squad individually at Sydney Airport and given private time to consider the offer before making their choice.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the government had put considerable effort into ensuring every player had a genuine, private choice, noting the Iranian government’s documented record of brutal treatment of women who challenge its authority.
Journalists covering the story reported that families of at least three of the players who remained in Australia had been threatened back home, underscoring the stakes for those who chose to stay.
The episode unfolded against a backdrop of acute regional tension. The stakes rose considerably after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran during the tournament, transforming the women’s decision into one with direct life-or-death implications. US President Donald Trump had urged Australia to grant the players asylum, warning on social media that the United States would offer protection if Australia did not act.
Iran’s football federation head Mehdi Taj rejected this account entirely, accusing Australia and Trump of forcing the players to abandon their country against their will, and describing the situation as a hostage-taking.
The remaining members of the Iranian squad arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Tuesday, where the Asian Football Confederation said it would support the team while onward travel arrangements were finalised.
