Field Level Media
15 Mar 2026, 04:35 GMT+10
(Photo credit: Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Three of the five players from the Iran women's soccer team, who had attempted to seek asylum earlier this week while the team was in Australia, have elected to return home, The Australian newspaper reported Saturday.
The Iranian team was in Australia for the Women's Asian Cup when the war between Iran, Israel and the Unites States began. Five players left the team and were given humanitarian visas in Australia.
Australia's Home Affairs department gave the three players requesting a return home multiple chances to reconsider before their request was honored.
'While the Australian government can ensure that opportunities are provided and communicated, we cannot remove the context in which the players are making these incredibly difficult decisions,' Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said, according to the Australian. 'The Australian government has done everything we could to make sure these women were provided with the chance for a safe future in Australia.'
Iran's women's team started play in the Women's Asian Cup just after the war in their home country started. The team lost all three games it played and were eliminated from the event.
--Field Level Media
Get a daily dose of Malaysia Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Malaysia Sun.
More InformationSYDNEY/AUCKLAND: Airlines are warning passengers to expect higher ticket prices as surging jet fuel costs linked to the Middle East...
BENGALURU/CHENNAI: Restaurants and hotels across India warned on March 10 that cooking operations could be disrupted or even halted...
(Photo credit: Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) Three of the five players from the Iran women's...
Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], March 15 (ANI): Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar said that attempts...
Dhaka [Bangladesh], March 14 (ANI): Pakistan player Salman Ali Agha has been officially reprimanded for breaching Level 1 of the ICC...
Abu Dhabi [UAE], March 14 (ANI): The United Arab Emirates' air defence systems intercepted nine ballistic missiles and 33 unmanned...
DUBLIN, Ireland: European dignitaries will receive woolen scarves worth 135,000 euros in total, paid for by the government, when Ireland...
LONDON: The war in the Middle East has triggered the largest disruption to global oil supplies on record, the International Energy...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Michael Bloomberg has again been named the biggest donor in the United States, topping the Chronicle of Philanthropy's...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. and global stocks fell again Friday as questions swirled over U.S. aspirations in the attacks against Iran...
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota: Target said it is cutting prices on more than 3,000 products across categories, including apparel, home goods,...
DUBAI, U.A.E.: Arab states in the Middle East are increasingly concerned that they are paying the economic and security costs of a...
