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Iranian women footballers stayed silent when the national anthem was played ahead of a match in Australia last week.
Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke (center) poses with an Iranian football player (right) and team official (left) in Sydney. (AFP Photo)
Two additional members of Iran’s national women’s football team have sought asylum in Australia after being labelled “traitors” due to them going silent when the national anthem was played ahead of a match. The Australian government confirmed the development on Wednesday as a player and a support staff member requested refuge before the team departed from Sydney on Tuesday evening.
Five athletes have already sought asylumaccording to Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke. “When I met with them, I made the same offer that I had made to the five players the night before,” Burke said. “Those two women were reunited with the five other players.”
The remaining squad members arrived in Malaysia early Wednesday morning after their flight from Sydney. Concerns had arisen that male chaperones accompanying the team might attempt to prevent additional women from seeking asylum.
Burke mentioned that each player was separated from the group at Sydney Airport and given time to consider the offer privately. Earlier this week, Iranian-Australian migration agent Naghmeh Danai had discussed asylum options with five players.
“We tried our best to make this happen,” Danai told AFP on Wednesday. “They were under lots of pressure here. They did not have permission to talk to anyone. Under strict surveillance from the Iranian government officials within the team as team leaders or internal security.”
In a symbolic act of defiance against the Islamic republic, Iranian players remained silent during the national anthem before a tournament match in Australia last week. A presenter on Iranian state TV called the players “wartime traitors,” raising fears of persecution or worse upon their return home.
Five players, including captain Zahra Ghanbari, left the team hotel early Tuesday morning to claim asylum in Australia. The government had engaged in secret talks with the players for days, subsequently moving them to a safe house after their departure from the Gold Coast hotel.
Iran’s football federation alleged that the players had been kidnapped and coerced into staying in Australia.
“After the game, unfortunately, the Australian police came and intervened, removing one or two of the players from the hotel, according to the news we have,” federation boss Mehdi Taj said on Iranian state television.
Although the team sang Iran’s anthem in subsequent matches, human rights activists warned that the damage had already been done.
Reza Pahlavi, son of the late shah of Iran, emphasised the ongoing threats faced by the Iranian Women’s National Football Team from the Islamic Republic. He urged the Australian government to ensure their safety and provide all necessary support.
With AFP Inputs
March 11, 2026, 09:11 IST
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