MELBOURNE, Australia — On Sunday, an Australian government minister announced that three more members of Iran’s women’s soccer team, who previously accepted refugee visas to remain in Australia, have opted to return to their home country.
This decision leaves only three of the original seven squad members still in Australia.
“Last night, three members of the Iranian Women’s Football Team chose to rejoin their teammates on the journey back to Iran,” said Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke in a statement.
“After informing Australian officials of their decision, the players were given multiple opportunities to discuss their options,” Burke added.
The Iranian team came to Australia for the Women’s Asian Cup last month, just days before the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East on February 28.
Initially, six players and a support staff member from a squad of 26 accepted humanitarian visas to remain in Australia, while the rest of the Iranian delegation flew from Sydney to Malaysia on March 9.
One player later changed her mind and left Australia. A government official confirmed that three players departed Sydney for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Saturday night. The remaining team members have stayed in Kuala Lumpur since departing Australia.
According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, the latest trio departing Australia included two players and one support staff member, who are “returning to the warm embrace of their family and homeland,” the news outlet reported.
Concerns for the players’ safety in Iran intensified after they did not sing the national anthem before their first match.
The Australian government faced calls for assistance from Iranian groups in Australia and even U.S. President Donald Trump.
The Iranian news agency characterized the return of the women to the team as a “disgraceful failure of the American-Australian project and yet another setback for Trump.”