Iranian Footballer Withdraws Asylum Request in Australia After Contact with Teammates

Government confirms one of seven women who sought sanctuary has reversed decision following communication with squad members who left the country.

SYDNEY: An Iranian women’s football team member who initially sought asylum in Australia has withdrawn her application after speaking with teammates who departed for Kuala Lumpur, according to the nation’s Home Affairs Minister.

The athlete was part of a group of seven squad members who applied for protection in Australia after facing backlash in Iran for an on-field protest. The women had been branded “traitors” by hardliners back home.

In an update to parliament on Wednesday, Minister Tony Burke revealed that one individual had reconsidered her position. “She had spoken to some of the teammates that left and changed their mind,” Burke stated. He added that the player was “advised and encouraged” by those colleagues to contact the Iranian embassy.

Burke noted that this communication inadvertently revealed the group’s location to diplomatic authorities. As a precaution, the remaining asylum seekers have been relocated from their initial safe house to a new, undisclosed location.

The development follows dramatic scenes at Sydney Airport on Tuesday evening, where players were separated from the delegation to ensure they could make private, unpressured decisions regarding their safety. The rest of the touring party has since departed Australia and arrived in Malaysia.