After four players from the Iranian women’s football team withdrew their asylum requests in Australia, team captain Zahra Qanbari has also decided to withdraw her application and return home. Qanbari will soon leave Australia for Malaysia, according to media reports.
Earlier, six members of the team had remained in Australia following the AFC tournament, with Australian authorities offering political asylum amid concerns over potential repercussions in Iran.
After four footballers from the Iranian women’s football team withdrew asylum in Australia, the team captain, Zahra Qanbari, has also decided to return home and withdraw her asylum application.
It should be noted that six members of the Iranian women’s football team stayed in Australia after the AFC tournament concluded. Australian authorities had announced that they would grant political asylum to these players.
Four of the six players had already withdrawn their applications, and with the captain’s decision, only one footballer remains in Australia.
Earlier, Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke offered asylum to all players and support staff of the Iranian team, who were offered asylum due to fears that they could face punishment in Iran for not singing the national anthem during the tournament.
Arab media reports indicate that six players and one staff member from the 26-member Iranian women’s national football team accepted Australia’s offer of asylum on humanitarian grounds. The rest of the Iranian delegation left Sydney for Kuala Lumpur on March 9 to return to Iran and are still in Malaysia.
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