Canberra - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday, 10 March 2026 announced that his government has granted asylum, issuing humanitarian visas to five members of Iranian women's national football team.
Prime Minister also offered other members of the Iranian women's national football team assistance if needed.
Grave concerns grow among Australians, Iranian diaspora in Australia and international community against the fate of the members of Iranian women's national football team after they did not sing their national anthem in an AFC's matches in Australia. The action considered at their home country as"war traitors". Under Iranian legal system, harsh punishment, including death sentence, could be imposed to those women.
Iran's women national football team is in Group A with Australia, Philippines and South Korea and lost in all of matches in Australia, eliminating the team further step in the regional football competition.
After their last match in Australia on Sunday, 8 March 2026, supporters saw some of the players sent hand SOS signal, therefore, supporters try to blockage the team's bus and many called for Australian government to grant those women protection.
Israeli Innovation, Science and Technology Minister Gila Gamliel sent an appeal letter to Australian Ambassador to Israel on Monday, requesting political asylum to be granted for members of Iranian women's national team.
US President Donald Trump also called Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for the same purpose, offering asylum in his country.
"Further, late last night, we issued five humanitarian visas to members to the Iranian women's soccer team. We've been preparing for this for some times. The Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke travelled to Queensland on Sunday, returned and travelled again last night," Prime Minister Albanese said on Tuesday in Canberra.
The women who're granted asylum by Australian government are Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Ghanbari, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramazanzadeh and Mona Hamoudi.
