Some Iranian soccer players granted asylum by Australia chose to return home, local official says

Three of the six Iranian women's shot players who accepted asylum successful Australia are returning to Iran, according to Tina Kordrostami, a councilor for the Australian City of Ryde. 

Kordrostami told Fox News Channel's "Fox Report With Jon Scott" Saturday that the 3 players are returning, calling it an "upsetting update," but she could not sermon nonstop reasons why. 

"They are heavy intimidated and being communicated to straight by the regime," Kordrostami said. 

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Iranian players respond during their nationalist anthem up of a Women's Asian Cup shot lucifer against the Philippines successful Robina, Australia, March 8, 2026.  (Dave Hunt/AAP Image via AP)

When asked if the players are being threatened, Kordrostami said, "I don't deliberation that, I cognize that.

"I cognize families person adjacent been detained. I cognize household members are missing. One happening I truly would similar for radical successful the West to recognize is that Iranians wrong the state person successful galore ways fixed up connected the West, and they are lone relying connected 1 different to past this regime. 

"So, erstwhile we bash connection them a mode out, it's not often that casual for them to recognize that it is successful information a mode out. They are much truthful utilized to relying connected 1 different and this is endurance for them."

Kordrostami added that the women who instrumentality look imaginable terrible consequences. 

"We are precise disquieted astir them. We cognize for a information that they volition not beryllium safe. I've mentioned this before. When you bash interruption a declaration arsenic an jock successful Iran, you tin look the decease penalty. So, I cognize these women are young. I cognize that they are making an incredibly hard decision, and I person the utmost respect for them," she said.

"Coercion is being utilized here, intimidation tactics. And we adjacent had an idiosyncratic amongst the girls wrong Sydney and Brisbane who was influencing them perpetually successful their ear, letting them cognize that immoderate Australia is offering them, it volition not work.

The squad arrived successful Australia earlier Israel and the U.S. launched a associated violative against Iran Feb. 28. The strikes led to the decease of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

IRANIAN WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM REFUSES TO SING NATIONAL ANTHEM IN SILENT PROTEST AT ASIAN CUP

Iranian players refused to sing their nationalist anthem earlier an opening nonaccomplishment to South Korea March 2, which was viewed by immoderate arsenic an enactment of absorption described by an Iranian commentator arsenic the "pinnacle of dishonor."

Australian Minister of Home Affairs Tony Burke announced astatine a quality league Tuesday that different Iranian women's shot subordinate and a squad staffer had accepted asylum successful Australia amid fearfulness of punishment upon returning to Iran aft 5 players accepted asylum connected Sunday.

Burke added that astir each the Iranian players and galore of the enactment unit were taken speech individually arsenic they passed done Australian Customs astatine an airdrome earlier they boarded their formation backmost to Iran.

And they were each fixed the accidental to judge an asylum connection without Iranian authorities officials present, but different players oregon unit accepted the connection to stay.

The asylum bids came amid accrued unit from President Donald Trump and Iranian groups successful Australia.

"Australia is making a unspeakable humanitarian mistake by allowing the Iran National Woman’s Soccer squad to beryllium forced backmost to Iran, wherever they volition astir apt beryllium killed. Don’t bash it, Mr. Prime Minister, springiness ASYLUM. The U.S. volition instrumentality them if you won’t," Trump wrote connected Truth Social.

Trump aboriginal wrote, "I conscionable spoke to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, of Australia, concerning the Iranian National Women’s Soccer Team.

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Iranian players during their nationalist anthem up of a Women's Asian Cup shot lucifer against the Philippines successful Robina, Australia, March 8, 2026. (Dave Hunt/AAPImage via AP)

"He’s connected it! Five person already been taken attraction of, and the remainder are connected their way. Some, however, consciousness they indispensable spell backmost due to the fact that they are disquieted astir the information of their families, including threats to those household members if they don’t return. In immoderate event, the Prime Minister is doing a precise bully occupation having to bash with this alternatively delicate situation. God bless Australia!"

Iran caput manager Marziyeh Jafari was quoted arsenic saying connected Australia’s nationalist quality bureau that the squad wants "to travel backmost to Iran arsenic soon arsenic we can."

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