Tehran: Members of Iran’s women’s national football team and their support staff have returned to Iran, Fars news agency reported. The team was welcomed by officials and members of the public at the Turkiye-Iran Bazargan border after participating in a tournament in Australia.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the team was embroiled in controversy after refusing to sing the Iranian national anthem during one of their matches in Australia. This act led to an IRIB presenter labeling them as ‘traitors.’ The situation further escalated when six players and one support staff member accepted an offer of asylum in Australia, expressing concerns about their safety upon returning to Iran.
Out of the seven individuals who initially sought asylum, five decided to return to Iran. Their homecoming has been met with mixed reactions, and a formal welcoming ceremony is scheduled to be held in Tehran on Thursday evening, as reported by Tasnim news agency. Meanwhile, amid these developments, Iran has also sought to move its World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico, but FIFA has stated that the schedule remains unchanged.