Iranian women’s football team captain, Zahra Ghanbari, has decided to move back to her home country after taking back her asylum request in Australia, Al Jazeera reported. She, along with other members of the team are currently en route to Iran via Malaysia. Seven members of the Iranian football team were offered asylum by Australia’s Home Affairs Minister, Tony Burke, after the members did not recite the national anthem in the first match of their tournament. Five members, including the captain, gave up the offer, while the rest are currently taking the offer and settling in the new country.
According to Tony Burke, the decision to give up the asylum offer and move back to Iran was taken overnight; hence, many speculations have arisen. The Australian government, justifying its offer, stated that they believe that the team’s ‘defiance’ will lead to trouble back in their country. Tony believes that external pressure is behind this change of heart and offered to talk about options regarding the asylum. Meanwhile, the Iranian team not only recited the anthem but also presented a salute to their country after the first match controversy.
The Iranian women’s football team was in Australia for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, where they played three group games at the Gold Coast Stadium in Queensland on March 2, 5, and 8 amid the ongoing war in Iran after the United States and Israel launched their attack on February 28.
