Arabic version: قائدة فريق إيران النسائي تسحب طلب اللجوء في أستراليا

Zahra Ghanbari, the captain of Iran’s women’s football team, has withdrawn her asylum request in Australia, according to Al Jazeera. Ghanbari’s decision makes her the fifth member of the delegation to reverse their asylum bid following the team’s participation in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

The IRNA news agency reported that Ghanbari will fly from Malaysia and travel to Iran within the next few hours. Previously, three players and one backroom staff member had also opted to abandon their asylum requests and were on their way to Malaysia from Australia.

Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated that the country had extended asylum offers to all players and support staff due to concerns they could face repercussions upon returning to Iran. This concern arose after the team declined to sing Iran’s national anthem during the tournament, a move that was met with backlash from Iranian media, labeling the players as “traitors.”

Following their initial match, during which they refrained from singing the anthem, the team changed their stance in subsequent games, leading to speculation about potential pressure from authorities. As of now, only two Iranian players remain in Australia, where they have been promised asylum and an opportunity to settle.