MELBOURNE, Australia — The Australian government confirmed Monday that a fifth member of the Iranian women’s national football team has departed the country after initially accepting refugee status, further reducing the number of athletes remaining from a group that sought humanitarian protection. This latest departure occurred shortly before midnight on Sunday, according to officials from Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke’s office.
The development follows Saturday’s exit of two additional players and a support staff member who traveled from Sydney to Malaysia. These departures mark a significant reversal from the initial wave of asylum seekers that saw six players and one staff member from Iran’s 26-person squad accept humanitarian visas following the Women’s Asian Cup tournament last month.
The team’s arrival in Australia preceded the February 28 outbreak of conflict in the Middle East, creating a complex geopolitical backdrop for their stay. On March 10, the majority of the Iranian contingent returned to Kuala Lumpur, while the remaining individuals pursued refugee status.
Iran’s Tasnim News Agency characterized the returning athletes as ‘returning to the warm embrace of their family and homeland,’ framing their departure as a failure of Western influence. The situation gained international attention when players declined to sing Iran’s national anthem during tournament matches, raising concerns about potential repercussions upon their return home.
The case drew high-profile attention, with Iranian diaspora groups in Australia and former U.S. President Donald Trump urging the Australian government to provide protection for the athletes. Iranian state media subsequently portrayed the athletes’ return as a ‘disgraceful failure of the American-Australian project.’
With the latest departures, only two squad members remain in Australia under humanitarian protection, marking a dramatic shift from the initial seven who sought refuge.