On March 9, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the above information, saying that the players had been taken to a safe location after completing relevant procedures. According to Mr. Albanese, Australian authorities have been working on this issue for some time before making a decision.
The head of the Australian Government also said that the country is ready to consider supporting other members of the Iranian women's team if they have a need to stay. However, the final decision still belongs to each individual player.
Previously, some organizations and individuals had called on the Australian government to consider granting asylum to Iranian players due to concerns that they could face risks if they return home. The controversy arose after some players did not sing the national anthem before the team's first match at the tournament.
According to sports journalist Raha Pourbakhsh, at least 7 players of the Iranian women's national team left the hotel where the team was stationed during the tournament. Among these, 5 have applied for asylum, and two other players are currently unknown.
The source also said that Mr. Mehdi Taj - President of the Iranian Football Federation was not granted a visa when he planned to go to Australia to work with the national team.
