Members of Iran’s women’s national football team have arrived in Turkey after several players withdrew their asylum applications in Australia and opted to return home.
The team landed at Istanbul Airport on Tuesday, according to footage released by Turkish news agency DHA, which showed players dressed in national team tracksuits moving through the arrivals terminal.
Their journey to Turkey followed a multi-leg trip from Australia, where they had been participating in the Women’s Asian Cup. The delegation travelled through Oman and Kuala Lumpur before reaching Istanbul.
While in transit in Malaysia, one player told AFP she was eager to reunite with her family, highlighting the emotional strain surrounding the situation.
Authorities in Turkey confirmed that the players were escorted by police from the airport to a hotel, where they are expected to stay briefly before departing for Iran on Wednesday.
The development comes after a controversy during the tournament, where seven members of the team reportedly sought asylum in Australia. The move followed backlash at home, where they were labelled “traitors” for refusing to sing the national anthem before their opening match.
However, most of those who initially sought asylum have since reversed their decision, leaving only two members of the delegation still in Australia.
Reacting to the situation, Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, praised the players who chose to return, describing them as loyal citizens who resisted external pressure.
Meanwhile, human rights organisations have alleged that Iranian authorities often exert pressure on athletes abroad by threatening their families or property if they defect or speak out against the government.
Iranian officials, on their part, have accused Australia of attempting to influence the players to remain in the country. Former U.S. President Donald Trump had also urged Australian authorities to grant asylum to the athletes.
The team is expected back in Iran amid ongoing tensions surrounding the incident.
AFP
