Australia has granted a humanitarian visa to five footballers from Iran’s women’s national football team after the players protested by remaining silent during the national anthem at the Asian Cup.
Players who identify themselves as:
- Fatemah Pasandideh
- Zahra Ghanbari
- Zahra Sarbali
- Atefeh Ramazanzadeh
- Mona Hamudi
All of them have been moved to a safe place, as confirmed by the Australian federal police.
Immigration Minister Tony Burke said: “The women have been moved to a safe location.”
He added that the players “want to make it clear that they are not political activists. They are athletes who want to be safe.”
Concerns about the Iranian soccer player’s safety arose last week when the team remained silent during the national anthem before a match against South Korea.
As reported by cnnSources close to the teams confirmed that the players faced threats against their families.
The rest of the team left Australia for Iran, although their travel route is still unclear.
Iranian state media reported that the Attorney General’s office encouraged the team to return, describing them as “children of this same land” who acted “inadvertently” due to “enemy plans.”
