Two former Iranian women’s national team footballers, who made international headlines for refusing to sing their country’s national anthem and were labeled traitors by Iranian state media, have officially become Australian citizens.
Fatemeh Pasandideh, 22, and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh, 34, first defied authorities in Tehran and chose to remain in Australia following the AFC Women’s Asian Cup held back in March 2024. Their decision to skip the national anthem before a tournament match, broadcast live to global audiences, sparked immediate backlash from Iranian official media, which swiftly labeled the pair traitors for their act of protest.
Shortly after the tournament concluded, Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke approved humanitarian visas for seven Iranian players who chose not to return to Iran. However, intense pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps—including threats targeting the players’ family members still in Iran—forced five of the seven athletes to reverse their decision and return home. Only Pasandideh and Ramezanisadeh stayed to build new lives in Australia.
On Wednesday, the two athletes completed their naturalization process at an official citizenship ceremony held in Brisbane, posing for photos with Minister Burke after receiving their official citizenship certificates. A visibly thrilled Pasandideh shared her excitement with local outlet The Australian following the ceremony. Burke had been scheduled to deliver a keynote address on migration policy at Canberra’s National Press Club the following day, though the event has since been postponed.
Soon after the pair settled in Queensland, Brisbane Roar Football Club’s women’s team extended an invitation for them to train with the squad, and club representatives have celebrated their new citizenship status. “What they have been through since February is more than most people deal with in a lifetime, and to see them arrive at this point is something everyone here at Brisbane Roar is glad to have had a small part in,” a club spokesperson told The Australian. “Queensland is their home now. If they ever want to pull on a training top and come back out with us, the door will always stay open.”
Back in April, shortly after receiving their humanitarian visas, Pasandideh and Ramezanisadeh released a public statement expressing gratitude to Australian authorities and local community groups. “We are overwhelmed by the warmth and generosity of the Iranian diaspora community in Australia,” the statement read. “Your support has made us feel welcome and less alone as we navigate this transition. At this stage, our primary focus is on our safety, our health and beginning the process of rebuilding our lives. We are elite athletes, and it remains our dream to continue our sporting careers here in Australia.”