Mar 15, 2026
3 min read
Seven members of the Iranian football delegation applied for asylum, with four now understood to have withdrawn their applications.
Three members of Iran's women's soccer team withdraw asylum claims from Australia
Seven members of the Iranian football delegation applied for asylum, four of whom have now withdrawn their application.
Two other Iranian women's soccer players and their support staff have reportedly withdrawn their asylum claims in Australia, granted after the team refused to sing Iran's national anthem at the Asian Cup tournament, fearing they would face punishment back home.
Iran's state broadcaster IRIB reported on Saturday that the three had "abandoned their asylum applications in Australia and are now seeking asylum in Malaysia".
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The information was confirmed the following week by Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke.
"Overnight, three members of the Iranian women's soccer team have decided to join the rest of the team on their trip to Iran," Burke said.
"After they informed Australian officials that they had made this decision, the players were given several opportunities to discuss their options."
The Iranian team was in Australia to participate in a football tournament held at the Gold Coast Stadium in Queensland when the US and Israel went to war against Iran on February 28.
In the first attack, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other leaders were killed.
A total of 1,444 Iranians have been killed since the start of the war, more than 170 of whom were students at Minab Elementary School, mostly schoolgirls.
After refusing to sing the Iranian national anthem in the first match, the players of the Iranian women's football team were branded "stalkers" by the IRIB reporter.
In widely circulated comments, witnesses said the players' actions were "the pinnacle of shame" and that they deserved "harsh punishment".
The comments prompted FIFPRO, the world body representing professional footballers, to call on FIFA and the AFC to "take all necessary measures" to protect Iranian players as fears for their safety grew after Australian media reported they were being monitored by Iranian government officials.
Five players, including captain Zahra Ghanbari, fled the team hotel under cover of darkness and sought refuge in Australia.A sixth player and a support staff member applied for asylum before the rest of the team flew out of Sydney earlier this week.
But one of the players withdrew his request earlier this week and contacted the rest of the team, who are still in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, awaiting their return to Iran.
Minister Burke told lawyers that the player, Mohade Zolfigol, was then encouraged to change his mind on the advice of his teammates and contact the Iranian embassy.
Iran's football body has accused Australia of kidnapping players and forcing them to leave their home country against their will.
