Iran’s women’s football team finished a challenging voyage from Australia on Wednesday, crossing the Turkish border into Iran after five players dropped their refugee requests.
Six athletes and one member of the support staff were given humanitarian visas by Australia after they applied for refuge, citing fear of persecution if they went back to Iran.
Two Iranian football players who applied for asylum in Australia have started training with Brisbane Roar, according to a previous report by Naija News. Concerns regarding the players’ safety were raised when several of them refused to perform the national anthem. They were called “wartime traitors” by Iranian official television.
The team travels to the Iranian border via Turkey.
The squad took a flight to Igdir in eastern Turkey on Wednesday morning after arriving in Istanbul on Tuesday.
Before boarding a bus to the border, the players were reportedly spotted at Igdir Airport lugging their bags and conversing in front of the terminal. They traveled for around two hours to reach the border, passed through passport control at the Gurbulak border gate, and then entered Iran.
On Wednesday, Iranian media released video of the women crossing into Iran after arriving in Turkey and riding a bus to the border. At the border, officials welcomed them.
Five of the people who applied for refuge in Australia later had second thoughts and chose to go back home. After departing Sydney last week, the team stayed in Kuala Lumpur, where they reunited with the rest of the group.
Those who changed their minds will return home with the rest of the team “to once again be embraced by their families and homeland,” according to a statement released by the Iranian Football Association last week.
There are still two players in Australia. Given the severe language from Iranian state media, the return of most of the team to Iran raises concerns about what awaits them upon arrival.
