Iran women’s soccer captain latest to withdraw asylum bid
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Iranian women’s national soccer team captain Zahra Ghanbari has become the fifth team member to withdraw her asylum bid in Australia. Four other players had already left Australia, as the 26-player squad had traveled to the country for the Women’s Asian Cup in February, arriving before tensions from U.S. and Israeli actions against Iran. six players and a support staff member had received humanitarian visas to remain in Australia while the rest of the group flew to Malaysia on March 9; since then, four of these members, besides Ghanbari, have left Australia. Officials and supporters say threats against families and relentless intimidation pushed many to seek asylum, a view echoed by exiled Iranian footballer Shiva Amini. the situation has drawn attention from political figures, with former President Donald Trump praising Australia for taking in the players, and it comes amid broader World Cup discussions scheduled for June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Iranian women’s soccer team captain becomes latest member to withdraw asylum bid
The captain of Iran women’s national soccer team became the fifth team member to withdraw her asylum bid in Australia on Sunday.
Zahra Ghanbari, 34, is “returning to the embrace of the homeland,” Iran’s IRNA news agency reported.
Ghanbari’s decision comes after four other team members also left Australia. The team of 26 players went to the country for the Women’s Asian Cup in February, arriving before the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.
Six players and a support staff member received humanitarian visas to stay in Australia while the rest of the group flew to Malaysia on March 9. Since then, four of these members, besides Ghanbari, have left Australia, according to Associated Press.
“Several of the players decided to go back because the threats against their families became unbearable and the intimidation was relentless,” Shiva Amini, an exiled Iranian former soccer player, posted on X.
President Donald Trump praised Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for taking the Iranian players in, writing on Truth Social, “God bless Australia!”
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Trump initially gave the Iranian men’s soccer team the green light to compete in the FIFA World Cup this summer, but has since said it may be unsafe for players amid the war in Iran.
The World Cup is scheduled to be held this year from June 11 through July 19, with games played across 16 different cities in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
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