Seven players from Iran’s women’s football team, who are competing in the Asian Cup, sought asylum in Australia last week
Two Iranian football players trained with the Australian club Brisbane Roar after requesting asylum in the country, and one of them published a photo with a FIFA official saying: Everything will be fine.” Seven players from Iran’s women’s football team, who are competing in the Asian Cup, sought asylum in Australia last week after being considered “traitors” in their country for refusing to sing the national anthem in the opening match of the tournament.
Only two players, Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh, remain in Australia as the others changed their minds and decided to return home. Human rights organizations have accused Tehran of pressuring female athletes abroadthreatening their family members or confiscating their property if they defect or make statements against the Islamic Republic.
In turn, theIranian authorities accused Australia of pressuring female players to remain in the country from Oceania. “Welcome, Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh,” proclaimed Brisbane Roar CEO Kaz Patafta as he shared photos on Monday of the two training and smiling with the A-League team.
Pasandideh posted a photo of herself on Instagram with Jill Ellis, FIFA’s director of women’s football and former coach of the United States women’s national team, with the caption: “Everything is going to be okay.” The two players are staying in an undisclosed location and receive support from the government and the Iranian community in Australia.
*AFP
