Iranian Women's Soccer Captain Ghanbari Abandons Asylum, Decides to Return Home

Zahra Ghanbari, captain and all-time leading scorer of Iran's women's national soccer team, has withdrawn her asylum application in Australia and decided to return to Iran, Iran's state news agency IRNA reported on the 18th (local time).

Ghanbari is scheduled to return to Iran from Australia via Malaysia. With this decision, 5 of the 7 Iranian players who applied for asylum after participating in the Women's Asian Cup have expressed their intention to return home, leaving only 2 players remaining in Australia to continue their asylum proceedings.

'Refusal to Sing National Anthem' Was the Trigger—State TV Labels Them 'Wartime Traitors'

The controversy began during the pre-match national anthem ceremony at the Women's Asian Cup. Ghanbari and other Iranian players refused to sing Iran's national anthem on the field, and subsequently applied for asylum in Australia.

Iranian state TV harshly condemned them as 'wartime traitors.' The Iranian government regards the refusal to sing the national anthem as a challenge to the regime and has continued to pressure the players through state media.

Human Rights Activist Claims "Revolutionary Guards Threatened Families"

However, Shiva Amini, an exiled Iranian athlete, disclosed via social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that the Iranian Football Association and the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) applied pressure on the players' families.

According to Amini, the Revolutionary Guards made direct threats including summoning Ghanbari's mother, and this pressure influenced the players' decisions to withdraw their asylum applications.

In contrast, Iranian authorities countered by claiming that Australia pressured the players to stay, asserting that the players' decisions to return home were voluntary.

Anti-Regime Movement in Iran and Female Athletes

Since the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini during hijab enforcement, women's rights protests have spread throughout Iran, and the Iranian women's national soccer team's refusal to sing the national anthem is interpreted as an extension of this anti-government resistance movement.

In the past, Iranian female athletes have resisted the regime at international competitions by refusing to wear hijabs and refusing to sing the national anthem, with some choosing asylum. Ghanbari's decision to return home is seen as a case demonstrating the Iranian government's powerful control and the continuing effectiveness of pressure on families.