Iranian women’s football captain withdraws Australian asylum bid

Zahra Ghanbari, the captain of the Iranian women’s national football team, has withdrawn her asylum application in Australia, according to reports from the IRNA news agency.

Ghanbari is currently travelling from Australia to Malaysia, where she will join other members of the delegation before flying back to Iran.

Three players and one member of the team’s backroom staff had earlier withdrawn their asylum bids and travelled to Malaysia in recent days.

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Rights groups have repeatedly accused Iranian authorities of pressuring athletes abroad by threatening their relatives or seizing property if they defect or make statements against the Islamic Republic.

Iranian media welcomed Ghanbari’s decision, with IRNA describing it as a return “to the embrace of the homeland.”

The situation emerged after seven members of Iran’s delegation at the Women’s Asian Cup sought refuge in Australia. They had reportedly been branded “traitors” at home after refusing to sing the national anthem during the tournament.

Following Ghanbari’s decision to withdraw her asylum claim, only two members of the delegation are now expected to remain in Australia. Those returning were reported to be staying in a hotel in Kuala Lumpur while awaiting travel onwards.

There was no immediate comment from Australian authorities on Ghanbari’s decision.

Last week, one player initially withdrew her asylum request, followed by two others and a staff member who left Australia on Saturday.

Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the players had been given several opportunities to discuss their options before deciding to return.

“The players were given repeated chances to talk about their options,” Burke said in a statement, noting that the Australian government had offered the team members the opportunity to seek refuge.

He added that the players faced “incredibly difficult decisions.”