Upon their arrival back in Iran, members of the Iranian national women’s soccer team were greeted with a warm welcome ceremony following the news that several players had sought asylum in Australia. Fatemeh Shaban, a midfielder, expressed her joy at being back in her homeland, stating, “First of all, we are so happy to be in Iran because Iran is our homeland.”
In Tehran, a crowd welcomed the team with waving flags, while some players carried bouquets of flowers and signed miniature soccer balls. Iranian media had previously reported the team’s return on Wednesday. Shaban, in translated remarks, expressed her surprise at the large turnout, saying, “I wasn’t expecting this many people to come to welcome us, and I am happy to be the daughter of Iran.”
Following their participation in the Women’s Asian Cup, two Iranian players, Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh, decided to stay in Australia and have been training with the Brisbane Roar club. Other players who had initially sought asylum later decided to return to Iran.
The Iranian team had traveled to Australia for the tournament just before the outbreak of the Iran war on February 28. The team garnered attention globally when some players remained silent during Iran’s national anthem before their first game in the Asian Cup. Interpretations of this silence varied, with some viewing it as an act of resistance or protest, while others saw it as a display of mourning. The players sang the anthem before their subsequent matches.
Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref recently reassured the public, stating that the women would be safe upon their return to Iran. He emphasized that the country welcomes its citizens with open arms and guarantees their security.
