Three Iranian women footballers reverse asylum and return home

Three members of Iran’s women’s football team who had sought asylum in Australia have decided to withdraw their request and return to Iran, Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said.

The players had initially asked for protection after refusing to sing Iran’s national anthem before a match played during the war between Iran and the United States and Israel.

Burke confirmed the change in a statement on Sunday, saying “Three members of the Iranian women's football team made the decision last night to rejoin the rest of the team and return to Iran.”

Seven members of Iran’s delegation - six players and one staff member - had earlier applied for asylum in Australia after they were branded “wartime traitors” in Iran over the anthem protest.

One player returned earlier this week, while three others have now chosen to rejoin the team and travel back to Iran.