Istanbul (Sports Desk): One of the seven members of Iran’s women’s national football team, who had been granted asylum by the Australian government, has reversed her decision and requested to return to Iran, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported on Wednesday.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed the development, stating that the player contacted Iranian embassy officials, who picked her up from the hotel where she had been staying with other team members who chose to remain in Australia.
The minister added that officials ensured the decision was entirely her own by asking all relevant questions. Instructions were also given to relocate the remaining team members to prevent the Iranian embassy from knowing their whereabouts.
The president of Iran’s Football Federation claimed that Australia had forced the women’s national team members to seek asylum.
It is notable that the asylum visas were issued on Tuesday, just one day after US President Donald Trump urged Australia to grant asylum to the Iranian women’s football team, citing serious risks if they returned to Iran.
