Iran’s women’s national football team, currently participating in the Women’s Asian Cup in Australia, experienced a collective defection incident. Five team members were labeled as “traitors” by the current Iranian regime for refusing to sing the national anthem during the tournament. Out of fear of persecution upon their return to Iran, they have left the team, sought refuge in a hotel, and applied for political asylum from the Australian government. The US President Trump promptly urged the Australian government to provide protection.
According to reports from the Sydney Morning Herald and CBS News, these five Iranian players left the team’s base camp on the Gold Coast on Monday night. They have been transferred to a secure location under the protection of the Australian police.
The incident originated on March 2 during the first match when all team members remained silent while the Iranian national anthem was played as a form of protest. This action was immediately dubbed as “treasonous” by Iranian state television, sparking anger among the hardliners in the country. CNN Sports reported that the players were forced to sing the national anthem before subsequent matches; and ahead of the game against the Philippines on March 8, they not only led the singing under pressure but also had to perform military salutes. After losing the match 0-2, supporters outside the stadium surrounded the team bus chanting “save our girls.”
President Trump took a firm stance on X Platform on Monday, urging Australia to grant asylum. Trump wrote, “If Australia allows the Iranian national women’s football team to be forcibly sent back to Iran, it would commit a terrible humanitarian error, as they could be likely killed there. Prime Minister, please do not do this, please provide asylum. If you don’t take them in, the US will.”
On the same day, the office of Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi confirmed that the five defected players are Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Ghanbari, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramazanzadeh, and Mona Hamoudi.
Their statement indicated that they have joined the opposition movement known as the “Lion and Sun Revolution.” Pahlavi warned that if they return to Iran, they would face “terrible consequences.”
Currently, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong told ABC that Australia stands with Iranian women but declined to comment on specific asylum cases. FIFA informed CNN that they are in close contact with the AFC and Australian authorities, emphasizing the safety of the players as a top priority.
Amid the tense situation in the Middle East, with Iran, the US, and Israel in a state of conflict and airspace closures causing disruptions in travel, supporters are concerned that if timely protection is not provided, these five players or other team members may be taken to a third country closely linked to Iran (such as Russia or China) for transit and then forcibly returned to the Middle East.
Additionally, according to ABC, FIFPRO expressed deep concern for the team’s well-being and confirmed being unable to directly contact the players. Meanwhile, a petition initiated by Australians urging the government to provide protection has gathered tens of thousands of signatures.