2 months ago
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Members of Iran’s nationalist women’s shot team were greeted with a invited ceremonial upon their instrumentality to the Islamic Republic aft respective of the players sought asylum successful Australia.
“First of each we are truthful blessed to beryllium successful Iran, due to the fact that Iran is our homeland,” midfielder Fatemeh Shaban said.
Also read: West Asia warfare updates connected March 20, 2026
People successful the assemblage waved flags portion immoderate of the players held bouquets of flowers and signed what appeared to beryllium mini-soccer balls. Iranian media had reported that the squad returned connected Wednesday (March 18, 2026).
“I wasn’t expecting this galore radical to travel to invited us, and I americium blessed to beryllium the girl of Iran,” Ms. Shaban said successful translated comments.
Two Iranian pistillate players, Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh, chose to stay successful Australia and person been grooming with the Brisbane Roar club.
Others who initially sought asylum aft the squad was knocked retired of the Women’s Asian Cup aboriginal changed their minds and said they would instrumentality to Iran.
Iran’s squad arrived successful Australia for the tourney soon earlier the Iran warfare began connected February 28. The squad initially gained planetary attraction aft immoderate players stayed soundless during Iran’s nationalist anthem earlier their archetypal crippled successful the Asian Cup. The soundlessness was formed arsenic an enactment of absorption oregon protestation by immoderate commentators and a amusement of mourning by others.
The players didn’t publically disclose their views oregon explicate their actions and sang the anthem earlier their adjacent 2 matches.
Iranian archetypal Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref past week dismissed suggestions that women would beryllium unsafe if they returned home, saying the state “welcomes its children with unfastened arms and the authorities guarantees their security.”
