Zahra Ghanbari, the captain of the Iranian women's national football team, has left Australia after withdrawing her asylum application. She is the fifth member of the Iranian delegation to reverse her decision to remain in the country following the Asian Cup.
A spokesperson for Home Minister Tony Burke confirmed on Monday that another team member had departed late on Sunday night. Seven members of the delegation had initially accepted humanitarian visas offered by Australia, but five eventually decided to return home.
Iranian state media celebrated the decision, describing it as a victory against 'psychological warfare'. However, reports suggested the team faced significant pressure from authorities back home. The team had drawn international attention by refusing to sing the Iranian anthem before a match on 2 March, shortly after the US and Israel launched a war against Iran and assassinated Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Mr Burke stated that the Australian government had done everything possible to help the women. 'Australians should be proud that it was in our country that these women experienced a nation presenting them with genuine choices,' he said. He added that while opportunities could be provided, the government could not remove the context in which players were making these difficult decisions.
Iran's Tasnim news agency said the players had resisted 'psychological warfare, extensive propaganda and seductive offers'. It accused the Australian government of 'playing in Trump's field'. After Ms Ghanbari's departure, only two members of the delegation remain in Australia, with the rest of the squad reportedly waiting in a hotel in Kuala Lumpur to return home.
