• Source:JND
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Australian Federal Police and the Australian government on Tuesday granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women's football team players after they pursued asylum amid fears of persecution if they returned to Iran following the eruption of conflict in their home country during their stay for the Women’s Asian Cup.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that the Iranian soccer players are safe in the country.

"Australians have been moved by the plight of these brave women. They're safe here, and they should feel at home here,'' Albanese said as quoted by news agency ANI.

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The players - Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Ghanbari, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramezanizadeh and Mona Hamoudi - reportedly fled from team handlers at a hotel on Australia's Gold Coast following their participation in the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup, reported Channel 9 News. The shocking operation unfurled overnight, with the players assisted by Australian authorities before being moved to a secure location.

Australia's Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced that humanitarian visas had been granted after a late-night process by the Department of Home Affairs.

"I signed off last night for their applications to go onto humanitarian visas, and a little bit after 1.30am this morning, the processing was completed by the Department of Home Affairs," Burke said.

The players had journeyed to Australia for the continental tournament, but worries about their safety arose after the team declined to sing the Iranian national anthem ahead of their opening match against South Korea. The act was widely noted as a sign of protest and elicited backlash from Iranian state media, which reportedly labelled the players as "traitors."

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Following their final group-stage game against the Philippines, reports suggested that some players made gestures signalling desperation as the team bus left the stadium. Activists and members of the Iranian diaspora in Australia also urged management to permit the athletes to stay in the country, citing apprehensions they could face some action if forced to return to Iran.

(With Agency Inputs)


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