The Iran women’s football team faces the uncertain prospect of returning home after a 2-0 defeat against the Philippines ended their Women’s Asian Cup campaign.
The Philippines’ Sara Eggesvik and Chandler McDaniel scored the goals on the Gold Coast last night.
Iran finish fourth in Group A and are eliminated despite some heroic saves from the goalkeeper, Raha Yazdani, in their final game.
Their third loss came after the players and coaches sang the national anthem, displaying a military salute before the match.
It was the second time they sung the anthem in the tournament after they decided not to, before their opening game against South Korea last Monday.
Iran’s state television called them “traitors” for not singing, saying the team was “the pinnacle of dishonour” as it came less than 48 hours after the US-Israel assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,the country’s Supreme Leader.
At the last match, fans also held up multiple flags of Imperial Iran, the country’s official flag before the Islamic Revolution of 1979, which brought in rulership by the Ayatollahs.
It is not known how or when Iran’s players will be able to return home, given the war and fears the regime could arrest them or mete out worse consequences on the players.
Foreign nations are therefore, scrambling to save the freedoms –and possibly,lives — of the ladies in the circumstance.
For instance, Australia’s shadow Attorney General, Julian Leeser, has called for the government to offer asylum to the Iranian team.
“On International Women’s Day, we must stand up for the women in our midst,” Leeser said today.
“We know that in recent days serious threats have been made against the courageous Iranian women’s soccer team who are currently playing in Australia.
“Given the serious threats, members of the Iranian team should be offered asylum if they want it. The Australian government should not turn a blind eye to the danger these women face.”
It is unclear what help the government can or will offer to the players. The Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, dead-batted questions on whether the federal government had contact with any of the Iran footballers earlier on Sunday.
The former Socceroos captain, Craig Foster, has also urged FIFA and the Football Australia to uphold their obligations to protect the safety of players.
“Human rights must be granted to all athletes during competition,” he posted on X. “The rights of all athletes must be the paramount consideration at all times. Under Fifa’s human rights policy, the safety of all players takes precedence over the protocols of a member federation, whether in tournament, or otherwise.
“At all times, this requires individual player agency, not group decision-making or imposed dictats. Given the public threats in response to the protected actions of the Iranian women’s team, concerns for their safety are justified and urgent.”
Twelve Iranian community organisations and civil society groups have sent a letter to Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke outlining they have “grave concerns” for the team.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Some of the Iranian women players during the Asian Cup.
