Iran women footballers plan to continue careers in ‘safe haven’ Australia

Iran women footballers plan to continue careers in ‘safe haven’ Australia

Two members of the Iran women’s football team say they are aiming to continue their sporting careers in Australia and thanked the country for providing a “safe haven” after being granted asylum.

Seven members of Iran’s Asian Cup travelling party had decided to claim humanitarian asylum in Australia after the team exited the competition in March. However, five changed their minds and returned to Iran, while Fatemeh Pasandideh ​and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh remained in Australia.

Speaking for the first time since being granted humanitarian visas, Pasandideh and Ramezanisadeh released a joint statement which thanked the Australian government and asked for privacy as they rebuild their lives.

“We wish to express our deepest gratitude to the Australian government, and particularly Home Affairs minister ⁠Tony Burke, for granting us humanitarian protection and a ​safe ⁠haven in this beautiful country,” ‌they said, in a statement carried by the Australian Associated Press.

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

“We are elite athletes, and it remains ‌our dream to continue our sporting careers here ​in Australia.”

Pasandideh and Ramezanisadeh trained with Brisbane Roar in March, with the A-League side saying they were “committed to providing a supportive environment for them whilst they navigate the next stages”.

Iran’s women’s team arrived in Australia for the Asian Cup before the United States and Israeli military strikes on the country on February 28, and the subsequent retaliation and escalation in conflict across the Middle East.

reported that while in Australia for the tournament, players in the squad had been chaperoned by officials with links to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), ordered to leave large financial guarantees in Iran, banned from leaving the team hotel, and seen their mobile phones tapped.