The remaining members of Iran’s women’s soccer team have left Sydney, heading back to the Middle East, though reports indicate that several more players have sought asylum.

The team’s troubles began on Monday, March 2, when they chose not to sing Iran’s national anthem before their match against South Korea on the Gold Coast during the Asia Cup. This act of defiance occurred shortly after tensions escalated between the US and Iran.

Their protest quickly reached Iranian authorities, leading to significant backlash. In response, Australia extended humanitarian visas to the players.

Critics in Iran, including a conservative commentator, branded the players as ‘wartime traitors’ and demanded severe punishment, heightening concerns about possible persecution upon their return.

Five players accepted Australia’s visa offer following a visit from Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke to their hotel on the Gold Coast. These players parted ways with their teammates, who proceeded to Sydney on Tuesday evening to board their flight out of the country.

According to sources, two additional players and a procurement manager have now also been granted asylum. They did not join the rest of the team on the Malaysia Airlines flight that departed around 10:45 pm on Tuesday, after a prolonged delay at the gate.

‘The situation for these individuals is that they had to make their own decision about their lives,’ Burke told reporters on Tuesday night.

‘I understand completely that Australians want to help. People kept saying publicly, ‘Can’t you just make sure at some point they’re away from it?’

The Iranian women’s soccer team have left Australia (pictured are the women disembarking a flight from the Gold Coast to Sydney to catch a transfer bus to their international flight)

Mohadeseh Zolfi, aged in her 20s, is one of two players who accepted an offer of asylum after the original five, and was not on the plane out of Australia last night. 

Golnoosh Khosravi, also aged in her 20s, was the second player to remain in Australia last night. All team members were offered humanitarian visas after they refused to sing Iran’s national anthem in Australia on March 2

‘What we could do was make sure they were away from anyone connected to the Iranian authorities so they could make the phone calls they wanted. 

‘They could be told there was an offer. And if they wanted to reach us, they could do exactly that.

Burke praised the work of Home Affairs officials who have worked with the players in recent days. 

‘They were there in that situation face to face with women dealing with challenges that are extraordinary,’ he said.

‘I couldn’t be prouder of the officials. But as I say, what mattered was that a choice was given and that it was given in a true situation of there being no pressure.

‘I respect all the comments and concerns that people have had, as there’s been protests around people being moved off and on buses.

‘But what I want to say is that people going through had an opportunity with a Home Affairs official and no pressure around them to make their own decision.

‘And I respect their independence and agency with whatever decision they choose.

Team procurement officer Fleur Meshkin-Kar was also not on the flight.

‘If people wanted to stay and keep talking and miss their plane, they could. There was no time pressure.’

Defection numbers will likely rise with Burke expected to provide further details on Wednesday.

The minister confirmed that some players had been in contact with the families back home,  

‘I haven’t been here for each and every conversation but I do know of specific instances where people have spoken to family members, where people have been on the phone,’ he said.

‘Sometimes there’s been a flurry back and forth trying to find the right number, and the numbers have been found and the conversations have happened.

‘And people know how Australia’s position has been: if you want to stay and wait, you can stay and wait, but it’s up to you. People have made their own decision and I think you have to respect that.’

A number of players were ‘tearful’ and embraced one another as they boarded the flight, while anti-regime protesters at Sydney Airport broke into cheers on hearing that more members of the squad had sought asylum. 

Concerns had also been raised after footage emerged on Tuesday of one player being dragged by the hand to leave their Gold Coast hotel. 

The players caught a flight out of Sydney to Kuala Lumpur and then onto the Middle East

A group of Iranians living in Australia claimed there has been immense pressure for the women to return to Iran. 

While confined to a hotel in Brisbane and under the watch of officials from the Islamic Republic, one team member reportedly responded to a message from the group and claimed ‘they have taken all our families hostage,’ The Australian reported.

That pressure was seemingly on display when protesters gathered outside the team’s hotel in hopes of stopping their bus from reaching Gold Coast Airport.

Witnesses recalled seeing staff dragging teammates onto the bus.

Extra Australian Federal Police officers as well as government officials were stationed at the airport to support the women in case they decided to accept the humanitarian visas at the last minute.

Alongside them were demonstrators urging the women to stay in Australia.  

The team and their staff touched down in Sydney about 8.15pm on a flight from the Gold Coast and disembarked behind all other passengers about 8.30pm.

They were accompanied by 12 AFP officers onto a waiting bus.

Passenger Courtnee, who was on the team’s flight from the Gold Coast to Sydney, said the players had boarded the Qantas flight first.

Demonstrators in Sydney urged the women to accept the visas

A message, reportedly from one of the team mates, claimed they would not accept the visas as their families were being held ‘hostage’

Protesters and police greeted the women at Sydney International Airport (above)

Demonstrators gathered at Sydney Airport to show their support for the women

Passenger Courtnee (above), who was aboard the team’s transfer flight from the Gold Coast to Sydney, told Daily Mail the captain made a heartwarming speech

Dozens of supporters gathered at the entrance of Sydney International Airport on Tuesday night

She told Daily Mail that many travellers were touched by the flight’s ‘beautiful atmosphere’, created in part by the captain’s touching tribute to the players.

‘The captain made a really beautiful announcement about how important it is we look after each other and the situation in the world at the moment,’ Courtnee said through tears.

‘The mood on the plane was really nice, everyone applauded the pilot and everyone was nice and really great.’ 

The players were ‘keeping composed, keeping together’ in the first few rows of economy seating.

‘People waved goodbye, said things. I said “I wish you the best luck with your lives”,’ Courtnee said.

A total of 14 heavily-armed police officers – eight women and six men – waited alongside the team for their international flight.

It’s understood their first leg is an eight-and-a-half-hour trip to Kuala Lumpur. 

The flight, MH140, had been due to take off at 10.15pm but was delayed.

Earlier on Tuesday protesters attempted to stop a bus leaving the players’ Gold Coast hotel

One player appeared to be led by the hand onto the bus by a teammate

Demonstrators showed their solidarity at Sydney Airport on Tuesday night

It’s understood players Gooloosh Khosravi and Mohadeseh Zolfi, both in their early 20s, were not on the plane and had taken up the visa offer along with a team procurement manager, Fleur Meshkin-Kar. 

The five players earlier granted asylum have been identified as Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Ghanbari, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramazanzadeh and Mona Hamoudi.

Minister Burke gave a press conference at Sydney Airport after the plane left in which he said each player was given time alone with a Home Affairs official, away from minders on the team, to discuss if they wanted to stay in Australia.

‘A choice was given and it was in a situation where there was no pressure,’ he said. 

‘I respect the comments and concerns people have had with the protests around… but before they got on that plane each of them had an oppourtunity to make their own decision and I respect their decision.’