Iran women’s football captain joins others, withdraws asylum bid

The captain of Iran women’s national football team, Zahra Ghanbari, has withdrawn her request for asylum in Australia and is preparing to return home, according to Iranian state media.

The development means she becomes the fifth member of the Iranian delegation at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup to reverse their earlier decision to seek refuge abroad.

Iran’s official news agency Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported that Ghanbari will travel from Australia to Malaysia before flying back to Iran.

Three players and one member of the team’s backroom staff had already withdrawn their asylum requests earlier and travelled to Kuala Lumpur, where they are awaiting their onward journey to Iran.

Seven members of the Iranian women’s football delegation had initially sought sanctuary in Australia after controversy erupted when the players refused to sing Iran’s national anthem during a tournament match. The move sparked outrage at home, with some media figures branding the players “traitors”.

Following Ghanbari’s decision, only two members of the delegation are now expected to remain in Australia.

Iranian media praised the captain’s move, with IRNA describing it as a return “to the embrace of the homeland,” while Mehr News Agency called it a “patriotic decision”.

However, international rights groups have raised concerns, saying Iranian authorities have previously pressured athletes abroad by threatening family members or confiscating property if they defect or criticise the government.

There has been no immediate comment from authorities in Australia on Ghanbari’s case.

Australia’s Home Affairs Minister, Tony Burke, earlier confirmed that some members of the team had chosen to abandon their asylum applications and rejoin the squad on its return journey.

He said the players were given repeated opportunities to discuss their options with Australian officials before making their final decision.

“The Australian Government has done everything we could to ensure these women had the opportunity for a safe future in Australia,” Burke said in a statement.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had earlier praised the players’ courage and said they would be welcomed if they chose to remain in the country.

But Iran’s football authorities accused Australia of attempting to lure the players away and described the situation as an effort to “kidnap” members of the national team.

The controversy surrounding the players comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following military strikes by United States and Israel on Iran, which triggered a wider regional conflict.