In a turn of events at the Asian Women’s Cup, five players from the Iranian national soccer team have left their squad and are now being cared for in a safe house in Australia.
The players defected on Monday shortly after Iran played its final match of the tournament against the Philippines.
According to sources, the operation was carried out with the help of the Australian Federal Police (AFP), who assisted the five individuals in leaving the team hotel on the Gold Coast early Monday evening.
The players’ disappearance was first noticed when they failed to show up for the team’s scheduled dinner.
It is understood that the players had been made aware of their options earlier in the week by representatives of the Australian government. The defection follows a period of intense fear and uncertainty for the team, linked to the recent escalation of conflict in the Middle East.
Fears for Safety After “Traitor” Accusations
The situation for the Iranian team became increasingly tense following the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and the ensuing military operations in the region. The players’ safety became a major concern after they were labeled “wartime traitors” by Iranian state television.
This harsh criticism came after the team chose not to sing the national anthem before their opening Asian Cup match against South Korea on March 2, a move seen widely as a protest against the Iranian regime. The men’s national team had made a similar silent protest during the 2022 World Cup.
In the days that followed, state media amplified its rhetoric. In a segment presenter Mohammad Reza Shahbazi spoke about the team’s actions. “Let me just say one thing: traitors during wartime must be dealt with more severely,” he said on air. “Anyone who takes a step against the country under war conditions must be dealt with more severely.”
The players did sing the anthem and performed a military salute in their subsequent two games, losses to Australia and the Philippines, but the damage and fear had already taken hold.
Urgent Talks and a Complex Exit
The Asian Cup has been taking place in Australia since before the latest and most serious escalation of the war in the Middle East. The Iranian team arrived in the country shortly before the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint mission on February 28.
Sources say that fears for the team’s safety prompted high-level discussions over the weekend involving the Australian government, FIFA, and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which organizes the tournament.
The talks centered on whether it was possible to extend the Iranian team’s stay in Australia for their own protection, given the dangerous situation in their home country.
The Iranian team had been scheduled to leave Australia on Monday following their final match. However, a journey back to Iran was expected to be complex due to airspace restrictions in the volatile Middle East region.
While the rest of the team was due to depart, the five players were instead escorted from the hotel by police. They are now in a secure location, with their immediate safety being looked after by the Australian Police.
When contacted, the Australian Federal Police declined to comment. Requests for comment from FIFA, the Iranian Football Federation, the Australian government, and the AFC have also been made.