By our reporter 9.3.2026
Five Iranian women football players who refused to sing their country’s national anthem at the on-going AFC Asian Women Cup in Australia have entered refugee status.
The women are part of the Iranian team that has crashed out of the tournament after losing two of their games in group A to Australia and Philippines. The five women remained silent while their national anthem was being played in their first match against hosts Australia.
The players who fled include Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Ghanbari, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramazanzadeh and Mona Hamoudi.
According to reports the women smuggled themselves out of the team’s camp in Gold Coast and have been given protection by the Australian Federal Police and other authorities.
There were concern for their safety when they return home after they were labelled traitors by the Iranian regime.
Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s ousted shah, called on the Australian government to ensure the safety of the women.
He said: “I call on the Australian government to ensure their safety and give them any and all needed support.”