Zahra Ghanbari, the captain of the Iranian women’s national football team, left Australia after withdrawing her asylum request.
Ms Ghanbari is the fifth member of the Iranian delegation to reverse her decision after initially accepting an offer to remain in the country following the Asian Cup.
A spokesperson for the office of home minister Tony Burke confirmed on Monday that another team member had departed late on Sunday night.
Seven members of Iran’s delegation had accepted humanitarian visas offered by Australia, but five of them eventually decided to return home.
Iranian state media gloated over their decision, describing it as a victory against “psychological warfare”, although reports claimed the team had faced huge pressure from the authorities back home.
The team had drawn international attention by declining to sing the Iranian anthem before an Asian Cup match in Australia on 2 March, just days after the US and Israel launched a war against Iran and assassinated supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
There were concerns that the players or their families could face harm over their apparent display of defiance and the Australian government offered them all individually the chance to apply for asylum.
Six players and a support staff member accepted the offer before one quickly changed her mind and left the country. It was reported that Zahra Soltan Meshkehkar, a member of the technical staff who first changed her mind, had been passing messages from Iranian football authorities to players in an attempt to persuade them to abandon their asylum plans.
She was later joined by the players Mona Hamoudi, Zahra Sarbali, and Atefeh Ramezanizadeh
Iran’s Tasnim news agency said they were “returning to the warm embrace of their families and homeland after withdrawing their asylum application in Australia”.
open image in gallery“The unwavering national pride and patriotism of Iran’s female national football players have thwarted the sinister schemes of enemies targeting the team,” Tasnim said.
The news agency said the decision of the players to return home was a “crushing blow to the US president, who overtly spearheaded this initiative”.
“The reversal by these Iranian national female footballers from their fleeting choice, returning to Iran amidst the imposed war and the nation’s endurance, represents a profound victory embodying patriotism, infinite devotion to Iran, and the resilience of courageous daughters of Iran who aligned with their people at a pivotal historical moment, securing an enduring legacy for themselves,” it added.
Mr Burke said the Australian government had done everything in its power to help the women.
“Australians should be proud that it was in our country that these women experienced a nation presenting them with genuine choices, and interacted with authorities seeking to help them,” Mr Burke said.
“While the Australian government can ensure that opportunities are provided and communicated, we cannot remove the context in which the players are making these incredibly difficult decisions.”
open image in galleryTasnim, however, said that the players had resisted “psychological warfare, extensive propaganda and seductive offers”.
“The national spirit and patriotism of the Iranian women’s national football team defeated the enemy’s plans against this team”, it said while accusing the Australian government of “playing in Trump’s field”.
After Ms Ghanbari’s decision to leave, only two members of the delegation still remain in Australia.
The Iran International TV reported the rest of the squad were in a hotel in Kuala Lumpur, waiting for their return home.
A total of 26 Iranian players and support staff had flown to Australia for the tournament.