Players land in Turkey en route to Iran following decision to abandon asylum applications in Australia.
The Iran women’s national football team arrived at Istanbul Airport on Tuesday after several members of the delegation withdrew their asylum bids in Australia and opted to return to Iran.
Footage from the Turkish news agency DHA showed the players, wearing national tracksuits, walking through the arrivals area. They had traveled via Oman and Kuala Lumpur after leaving Australia, where they were competing in the Women’s Asian Cup.
One player told AFP at Kuala Lumpur Airport, “I am missing my family.” According to DHA, the team left Istanbul Airport under police escort and checked into a hotel in the city before their scheduled return to Iran on Wednesday.
Last week, seven members of the delegation sought asylum in Australia after refusing to sing the national anthem during their opening match, prompting them to be branded “traitors” at home. Only two remain in Australia, with the rest deciding to return.
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote on X that the players had “disappointed the enemies of the Islamic Republic and did not surrender to deception and intimidation by anti-Iran elements.”
Human rights groups have accused Tehran of pressuring athletes abroad, including threats against relatives and property seizure if they defect or speak out against the regime. Iranian authorities had also accused Australia of attempting to influence the players to stay, while former US President Donald Trump urged Australia to offer asylum.
