Some Iranian Women’s Soccer Players Remain in Australia Amid Allegations of Family Hostage Situations

The remaining members of the Iranian women’s soccer team have left Sydney, heading back to the Middle East, amid reports that additional team members have been granted asylum.

The team’s troubles began on Monday, March 2, when they made headlines by refusing to sing Iran’s national anthem prior to their match against South Korea on the Gold Coast during the Asia Cup. This act of protest came just days after tensions between the United States and Iran had escalated.

In response to their protest, the Australian government extended an offer of humanitarian visas to the players, sparking significant backlash in Iran. The offer came after reports of their actions reached Iranian authorities.

Five players quickly accepted the visas. They separated from their teammates after a visit from Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke at their Gold Coast hotel. The rest of the team traveled to Sydney on Tuesday evening to board a flight back home.

It has been reported that since then, two more players and a procurement manager have also decided to seek asylum. They chose not to board the Malaysia Airlines flight that departed Australia at approximately 10:45 p.m. on Tuesday, following an extended delay at the gate.

A number of players were ‘tearful’ and embraced one another as they boarded the flight, while anti-regime protesters at Sydney Airport broke into cheers on hearing that more members of the squad had sought asylum.

Concerns had also been raised after footage also emerged on Tuesday of one of the players being dragged by the hand to leave their Gold Coast hotel. 

The Iranian women’s soccer team have left Australia (pictured are the women disembarking a flight from the Gold Coast to Sydney to catch a transfer bus to their international flight)

The women were offered humanitarian visas after they refused to sing Iran’s national anthem at a match in Australia on March 2

The players caught a flight out of Sydney to Kuala Lumpur and then onto the Middle East

A group of Iranians living in Australia claimed there has been immense pressure for the women to return to Iran. 

While confined to a hotel in Brisbane and under the watch of officials from the Islamic Republic, one team member reportedly responded to a message from the group and claimed ‘they have taken all our families hostage,’ The Australian reported.

That pressure was seemingly on display when protesters gathered outside the team’s hotel in hopes of stopping their bus from reaching Gold Coast Airport.

Witnesses recalled seeing staff dragging teammates onto the bus.

Extra Australian Federal Police officers as well as government officials were stationed at the airport to support the women in case they decided to accept the humanitarian visas at the last minute.

Alongside them were demonstrators urging the women to stay in Australia.  

The team and their staff touched down in Sydney about 8.15pm on a flight from the Gold Coast and disembarked behind all other passengers about 8.30pm.

They were accompanied by 12 AFP officers onto a waiting bus.

Passenger Courtnee said the players had boarded the Qantas flight first.

Demonstrators in Sydney urged the women to accept the visas

A messages, reportedly from one of the team mates, claimed they would not accept the visas as their families were being held ‘hostage’

Protesters and police greeted the women at Sydney International Airport (above)

Demonstrators gathered at Sydney Airport to show their support for the women

Passenger Courtnee (above), who was aboard the team’s transfer flight from the Gold Coast to Sydney, told Daily Mail the captain made a heartwarming speech

Dozens of supporters gathered at the entrance of Sydney International Airport on Tuesday night

Demonstrators showed their solidarity

She told Daily Mail that many travellers were touched by the flight’s ‘beautiful atmosphere’, created in part by the captain’s touching tribute to the players.  

‘The captain made a really beautiful announcement about how important it is we look after each other and the situation in the world at the moment,’ Courtnee said through tears.

‘The mood on the plane was really nice, everyone applauded the pilot and everyone was nice and really great.’ 

The players were ‘keeping composed, keeping together’ in the first few rows of economy seating.

‘People waved goodbye, said things. I said ‘I wish you the best luck with your lives’,’ Courtnee said.

A total of 14 heavily-armed police officers – eight women and six men – waited alongside the team for their international flight.

It’s understood their first leg is an eight-and-a-half-hour trip to Kuala Lumpur. 

The flight, MH140, had been due to take off at 10.15pm but was delayed.