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Former Iranian wrestler Sardar Pashaei, like many, is concerned about Iranian footballers returning to their home country after failing to perform for the national anthem and being offered asylum by Australia.
Pashei, who won the 1998 World Junior Championships, knows how protesting athletes are treated in Iran, and he especially knows how female athletes are treated there.
“If you’re a woman, you have a different layer of discrimination. You know, it’s sexual harassment. You’re forced to wear something you don’t want. And then, as a woman, you’re banned from playing a lot of sports,” Pashaei told Pak Gazette Digital.
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Pashaei has seen close friends who are athletes face this discrimination and be persecuted by the regime.
“I know Soheila Farahani, she was captain of the national volleyball team. She was sentenced to 74 lashes because a photo of her without a hijab was made public. So this is the kind of example of the discrimination they face,” he said.
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“Shaqaiq, one of my good friends who was captain of the handball team… was under a lot of pressure. And now I think she lives in a country that doesn’t want to make it public for her safety. Because the Islamic regime really went after her, even outside the country, on European soil to bring her back.”
three of the six Iranian footballers who accepted asylum in Australia are returning to Iran. Tina Kordrostami, councilor for the Australian city of Ryde, told Pak Gazette’ “Fox Report With Jon Scott” on Saturday that athletes face threats against their families.
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“I know that even families have been detained. I know that there are missing family members. One thing I would really like people in the West to understand is that Iranians inside the country have in many ways renounced the West and only depend on each other to survive this regime,” Kordrostami said. “Coercion, intimidation tactics are used here.”
Pashaei says he wouldn’t be surprised if the players had “a forced confession.”
“So the regime wants to say that it is loyal to its government. All this was what is called playing an enemies’ game. And I am sure that they will be pressured and investigated,” Pashaei said.
Pashaei remembers competing with the difficulties of representing Iran under the Ayatollah.
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Iranian players pose for a team photo before a Women’s Asian Cup soccer match against the Philippines in Robina, Australia, March 8, 2026. (Dave Hunt/AAPImage via AP, File)
“They always send security people along with the team. They watch you. They want to keep the presence of the regime at your side. So you always feel that,” he said.
“I remember when we were traveling, members of the intelligence agencies would walk behind our doors at night, so we wouldn’t go out. As soon as we went to the restaurant, they went there and took away all of our alcoholic beverages, you know, the pork food.”
