Iranian women’s footballers Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh have publicly thanked the Australian government for offering them a “safe haven,” expressing their desire to restart their sporting careers after rebuilding their lives.
In their first public comments since being granted humanitarian visas, the players stated on Friday that the compassion and support shown to them had provided hope for a future where they could live and compete in safety.
“We wish to express our deepest gratitude to the Australian government, and particularly Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, for granting us humanitarian protection and a safe haven in this beautiful country,” they said.
Australia initially granted humanitarian visas to six players and one support staff member from the Iranian squad.
This occurred during their Asian Cup campaign in Australia, which began just as the United States and Israel launched air-strikes on Iran.
However, five of the group subsequently changed their minds and decided to return home, leaving only Pasandideh and Ramezanisadeh in Australia.
The duo began training with A-League Women’s team Brisbane Roar last month.
“At this stage, our primary focus is on our safety, our health and beginning the process of rebuilding our lives,” they said.
“We are elite athletes, and it remains our dream to continue our sporting careers here in Australia.”
Concerns over the Iranian players’ safety surfaced after several players did not sing the national anthem at an Asian Cup match, with Iranian state TV labelling them “wartime traitors”.
The rest of the team arrived home in Iran last month via the Turkish border after a fraught return journey from Australia.
The decision to grant some players asylum followed days of appeals from Iranian advocacy groups in Australia as well as Donald Trump, who called on Canberra to offer them protection.
“I made them the same offer that I made the five players the night before,” Home minister Tony Burke said.
“If they wanted to receive a humanitarian visa for Australia, which would have a pathway to a permanent visa, I had the paperwork ready and would execute that immediately.”
Mehdi Taj, the president of Iran’s football federation, earlier claimed that Australia had pressured members of the team into seeking asylum.
He said that when the team tried to leave the country, police intervened on the orders of the prime minister.
Iran’s head coach Marziyeh Jafari previously said the players “want to come back to Iran as soon as we can”.
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