More Iran women reverse Australia asylum decision after anthem protest

Three more members of Iran’s women’s football delegation who were granted humanitarian visas in Australia last week have chosen to return to Iran, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has said.Australia granted protection to six players and a support worker after members of the squad raised fears of persecution following a high-profile protest at the Women’s Asian Cup, when players declined to sing the national anthem before a match.Four of the six players have now reversed course and told officials they intend to travel back to Iran, Burke said, leaving only a small number still in Australia under protection arrangements.Burke said: “After telling Australian officials they had made this decision the players were given repeated chances to talk about their options.“While the Australian Government can ensure that opportunities are provided and communicated, we cannot remove the context in which the players are making these incredibly difficult decisions.”The players’ initial decision to seek protection followed a backlash in Iran after the anthem protest, with state-linked coverage describing them as traitors and calls circulating for punishment.The episode has put player welfare and safeguarding back into focus for federations and tournament organisers, particularly where athletes travel with officials as part of a national delegation.Iranian authorities have publicly sought to lower the temperature, with messaging that the squad could return “with calm and confidence”, and language suggesting the players acted “unintentionally” and under emotional influence.The Australia-Iran diplomatic dimension has intensified in parallel, with the asylum decisions landing amid wider geopolitical tension and heightened political scrutiny of Iran-related security issues.Burke has framed Australia’s role as ensuring options were clearly presented, while acknowledging the real-world pressures that can shape decisions even after protection is offered.Several members of the delegation who withdrew their requests for protection have travelled to Kuala Lumpur to rejoin the team’s wider travel party before continuing to Tehran.As of Sunday, two of the original group granted visas were still understood to be in Australia.