Iran footballers granted asylum in Australia vow to continue chasing sporting dream

The two members of the Iran football team who remained in Australia after the Women’s Asian Cup are beginning their new lives away from the spotlight, even if their dream is to return to elite football.

Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh issued a statement on Friday saying they “respectfully ask” for “privacy and space”.

It has been five weeks since a group of six players and one staff member were granted asylum in Australia, before five of the group returned to Iran leaving two – Pasandideh and Ramezanisadeh – behind.

“At this stage, our primary focus is on our safety, our health and beginning the process of rebuilding our lives,” they said.

“We are elite athletes, and it remains our dream to continue our sporting careers here in Australia. However, we are not yet ready to speak publicly about our experiences.”

The statement was shared by Brisbane Roar, who had invited the players to train with the A-Leagues club last month.

At the time, Roar chief executive, Kaz Patafta, said the offer was about “providing a supportive environment for them whilst they navigate the next stages”.

The club has maintained its involvement was simply to offer a comfortable place for Pasandideh and Ramezanisadeh to play football rather than seek to sign them to playing contracts, and is now directing inquiries about the players to their public relations firm.

The pair expressed gratitude to the Australian government for “granting us humanitarian protection and a safe haven in this beautiful country.”

“The compassion and support shown to us during this challenging time has provided us with hope for a future where we can live and compete in safety,” they said. “We also thank the dedicated Home Affairs staff who have supported us in recent weeks.

The Iranian women’s football team found themselves subject to criticism in Iran when they did not sing the national anthem before their first match at the Asian Cup, and there were fears for their safety when they returned home.

The situation triggered an outpouring of support for the players, led by the Iranian community in Australia, who attended the team’s Queensland hotel and at one stage blocked the departure of the team’s bus.