Three more women footballers return to Iran from Australia
Mar 16, 2026
Sydney [Australia], March 16: Three more members of the Iranian women's national football team have left Australia, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced on Sunday.
Burke said the three women had decided to return to their homeland, which has been severely affected by the ongoing war.
The fate of the Iranian team caused a major stir this week. Following their exit from the Asian Cup, five players had initially applied for asylum in Australia.
Another player and a member of the support staff followed suit shortly before the team left Australia for Iran on Wednesday, though one of the women changed her mind at the last minute.
Silent protest in the first group match The journey of the Lionesses, as the team is known, has been the focus of international attention for days. The squad had come under criticism at home due to a silent protest during the Asian Cup, which was held in Australia.
Source: Qatar Tribune
