5th member of Iranian women's soccer team leaves Australian refuge
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Kuala Lumpur: A fifth member of the Iranian women’s soccer team who accepted a refugee visa to stay in Australia has left the country, the Australian government said on Monday, the Associated Press reported.
The player's departure shortly before midnight on Sunday leaves two of an initial seven squad members in Australia, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke’s office said.
The squad flew from Sydney on March 10 after being knocked out of the Women’s Asian Cup in Australia, leaving behind six players and a support staff member who had accepted protection visas.
Four players and the staffer have since rejoined the team in Kuala Lumpur, the latest flying in on Monday. No reasons have been given for the changes of heart, but the Iranian diaspora in Australia blames pressure from Tehran. Some suspect the team is remaining on a 10-hour flight from Sydney until the two outstanding players are persuaded to rejoin them from Australia.
The team is being supported in Kuala Lumpur by the Asian Football Confederation. The confederation’s general secretary, Windsor Paul John, said the team was waiting in Malaysia's largest city to make flight connections to their war-torn homeland.
“It could be today, tomorrow or next week,” Windsor told reporters in Kuala Lumpur. “We are just waiting for them to tell us their plans.”
Windsor said his confederation had not received any direct complaints from players about returning home, despite media reports that their families in Iran could face retaliation for the team failing to sing their national anthem before the opening match.
“We couldn’t verify anything. We asked them and they said, ‘No, it’s ok,’” he said. “They are actually in high spirits... they didn’t look afraid.”
Iranian authorities have welcomed the women's decisions to reject asylum as a victory against Australia and U.S. President Donald Trump.
Iran’s squad had arrived in Australia for the tournament shortly before the war in the Middle East began on Feb. 28, complicating travel arrangements.