A fifth member of the Iranian national women’s soccer team, who had sought refuge in Australia, has departed the country, as confirmed by the Australian government. This player’s exit occurred just before midnight on Sunday, leaving only two of the original seven team members in Australia, according to a statement from Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke’s office.
The Iranian authorities have viewed the women’s decision to stay in Australia as a triumph over Australia and U.S. President Donald Trump. However, the Iranian community in Australia attributes their departure to pressure from Tehran.
Earlier, two players and a support staff member had left Sydney for Malaysia on Saturday, as reported by Burke. The team had traveled to Australia for the Women’s Asian Cup before unexpected airstrikes by Israel and the United States on Iran on February 28.
Initially, six players and a support staff member from a total of 26 had accepted humanitarian visas to remain in Australia, while the rest of the Iranian contingent flew to Kuala Lumpur on March 10. Subsequently, another player reversed her decision and left Australia. Three more individuals departed for Kuala Lumpur on Saturday night, according to a government official. The remaining team members have stayed in Kuala Lumpur since leaving Australia.
Assistant Immigration Minister Matt Thistlethwaite described the situation of the women in Australia as intricate. He mentioned that the Australian government is closely collaborating with them, respecting their decisions, and offering support to those who have opted to stay.
Political scientist Kylie Moore-Gilbert, who had been imprisoned in Iran on spying charges, emphasized the complexity of the situation. She suggested that the high stakes involved had compelled the Iranian regime to intervene, turning it into an international issue.
Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported the return of the three women who departed Australia, stating they were reuniting with their families. Concerns about the team’s safety in Iran arose when the players refrained from singing the national anthem before a match.
The Australian government faced appeals from Iranian groups in Australia and Trump to assist the women. The Iranian news agency criticized the return of the women to the team as a setback for the American-Australian initiative and Trump.
Allegations were made by some members of the Iranian community in Australia against a support staff member who initially sought asylum and later left, accusing her of spreading Iranian government propaganda to her teammates via text messages. Thistlethwaite refuted these claims, asserting that those remaining in Australia were genuine asylum seekers.
Thistlethwaite mentioned that the women were relocated to a secure location once they opted to stay in Australia and were allowed to communicate with family and others. The Iranian embassy in Canberra remains operational, despite diplomatic tensions between Australia and Iran.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese severed diplomatic ties with Iran in response to alleged incidents of arson in 2024. Kambiz Razmara of the Australian-Iranian Society of Victoria acknowledged the pressure faced by the women from the Tehran regime, emphasizing the challenging circumstances they had to navigate in making decisions.