Five Iranian Women Footballers Granted Australian Humanitarian Visas After Anthem Protest

Australia has granted humanitarian visas to five members of the Iranian women's national football team following their refusal to sing the national anthem during the Asian Cup, Immigration Minister Tony Burke announced on Tuesday.

The players—Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Ghanbari, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramazanzadeh, and Mona Hamoudi—were moved to a safe location by Australian police after expressing safety concerns. They will now be allowed to live, work, and study in Australia under the country's humanitarian visa programme.

Burke met the women on Monday and signed off on their applications, which were processed overnight. He said: “They want to be clear they are not political activists. They are athletes who want to be safe.” He added that the remaining squad members were welcome to apply for similar protection.

The decision followed dramatic scenes at the team’s Gold Coast hotel, where players left in groups after speaking to activists. Supporters surrounded their bus as it departed the stadium on Sunday, chanting “save our girls.”

The players had remained silent during the anthem before their match against South Korea, prompting backlash in Iran. A conservative commentator labelled them “wartime traitors” and called for punishment.

In their later matches against Australia and the Philippines, the team sang and saluted the anthem, leading some to believe they had been pressured by officials.

Human rights advocates, including former Socceroos captain Craig Foster, raised concerns about the players’ safety upon return, noting threats to their families in Iran. Foster, who helped the Afghanistan women’s team flee the Taliban in 2021, said the women had been “held hostage” by team management and denied external contact.

US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social demanding Australia grant asylum, later claiming he had spoken to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and that “five have already been taken care of, and the rest are on their way.”

Iranian supporters in Australia waved the pre-revolution Lion and Sun flag during matches and booed the current anthem, defying stadium rules.

The government has not yet confirmed when the rest of the team will leave the hotel or their final destinations.