Iranian footballers join Brisbane Roar training after asylum granted
Of the seven members of the Iranian women's football team who were granted asylum, only two have decided to remain in Australia.
Two members of Iran’s women’s football team who were granted asylum in Australia have joined training with A-League Women’s club Brisbane Roar.
Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh were photographed smiling in the club’s colours as they posed with the women’s squad in images posted to Instagram by the Roar on Monday.
“We remain committed to providing a supportive environment for them whilst they navigate the next stages,” Brisbane Roar CEO Kaz Patafta wrote.
Both women left comments on the post. “Thank you for everything,” Ramezanisadeh wrote, while Mona Hamoudi, who changed her mind and flew out of Australia on Saturday, posted a love heart emoji and the words “my love” on the post.
The development came as the remainder of Iran’s football delegation departed Malaysia bound for Oman, concluding a turbulent period that saw the Australian government offer humanitarian visas to most of the squad after the team was eliminated from the Women’s Asian Cup.
Seven women initially accepted the asylum offer before five changed their minds and said they would return to Iran.
The Iranian women’s team arrived in Australia for the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup shortly before the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran in late February. The players staged a silent protest as their national anthem played, prompting Iranian state media to label them “wartime traitors”.
Five players initially claimed asylum on Monday last week before a sixth player and a staff member followed suit within 24 hours.
However, five of the seven players and associates granted asylum by the Albanese government have since departed Australia.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said Australian officials had given the women “repeated chances” to discuss their options but acknowledged it was an “incredibly difficult decision”.
The women had broken away from their regime handlers and sought police assistance. In a covert operation, they were relocated to a safe house where Burke met them and offered humanitarian visas amid fears they could face persecution upon returning to Iran.
In a video published Monday, sports commentator Tracey Holmes claimed the team associate Zahra Soltan Meshkehkar had convinced Iranian players to withdraw their asylum claims.
It was alleged the logistics manager of the national women’s team had, on behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, infiltrated the safe house and played a role in persuading players to return home.
Brisbane Roar posted a welcome to “Fatemeh and Atefeh” on Instagram, along with a lioness emoji, referencing the nickname by which the Iranian players are known.
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