URGENT Iranian women's football team

[ProfessorBinturong]

After refusing to sing the national anthem they have been declared 'war traitors'. If they return to Iran they will be severely punished, probably executed.

They signalled for help from their tour bus and protesters tried to prevent it leaving the stadium, but Australian security intervened to allow it through.

They're currently in a hotel waiting to be taken back home. Please sign this NOW to ask Australia to to give them.asylum. At the moment the government is insisting they apply for asylum individually, which is impossible while they are being held by their Iranian handlers.

x.com/i/status/2030781831537451013

https://x.com/traceyleeholmes/status/2031137790201835599?s=46

The three are in the hotel.

But still, chilling news about the official that has arrived.

It's not either or.

Posting more for the photo than anything. Hope it displays.

https://thenightly.com.au/politics/australia-grants-asylum-to-five-iranian-womens-football-players-after-asian-cup-sos-in-brisbane-c-21891653

I have to admit I have not been able to grasp how they were allowed to play football by the male powers that be, ie the clothes they wear. But really glad they had the opportunity to begin with. And how it has led to this escape.

They're allowed to play for propaganda purposes.

Well yes - but allowing them to wear western clothes sort of highlights the hypocrasy of the stringent dress code.

Unless they are saying its okay for Iranian women to not be veiled for western men, but for Iranian men they have to be?????!!!!!!!

The Iranian regime doesn't allow them to wear western clothes; you will see that the team is forced to play with covered arms and legs, and with headscarves. The pictures of team members with uncovered heads were taken after they claimed asylum (given how much the headscarf is considered a symbol of oppression in Iran, it is unsurprising how it is discarded by these players).

Another update:

https://x.com/traceyleeholmes/status/2031212908714275023?s=46

Apparently, some other players have decided to stay. The team have been taken to the airport now but Australian Federal Police and immigration are going to be there to assist any others who change their mind.

This. If you watch footage of them playing, or the not-singing, they are all in firmly-fitted hijabs and very well covered. Same as their Olympic team. There's not a wisp of hair, or any visible skin apart from face and hands.

Iran is not Afghanistan. Women are strictly controlled but not hidden away. They're allowed, even encouraged, to work. And international sport is work that benefits the regime by making them look 'reasonable'.

Actually, I'm mistaken about the hijabs when they were refusing to sing - many of them also pushed their hijabs back and showed hair. In official team photos they weren't allowed that much licence.

This shows the baggy, all-covering kit. They're not running around the pitch in shorts.

Why is it that religions always control women more than men?
Could it be because they're all man-made?

Done. Though the Aus govt are unlikely to act on a petition. They’ll either take pity on them and allow them to stay, or they won’t.

Presumably, the women knew what the repercussions would be when they decided not to sing the anthem.

Although to be clear - they CAN’T go back to Iran. They just can’t.

I feel sick, this is appalling.

x.com/i/status/2031375385615859966
The remaining Iranian women’s soccer players were forcibly dragged onto a plane today to return to be punished by the Islamic Regime.

This is likely the last time anyone will see them alive.

Horrible. There are no words.

Done.

Fuck. Omg. Absolutely no words.

ETA: Wait a minute. The media is saying that all those who wanted asylum were given it, including the woman who made a last-minute plea at the gate. The ones who did return were taken to a room without any of their Iranian handlers and given a choice as to whether to stay or leave. This is according to reputable media like Sky News and the BBC.

So the above must be false.

Five of these women are safe, all were offered asylum by Australia.

I’m going to assume the others returned because they didn’t want their families punished in their absence. Not to say the ones who stayed didn’t mind about that, but perhaps not much family or more influential.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy8e978xl8o

I bet the minders are going to be executed for taking their eyes off the players...

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-10/iran-womens-football-team-players/106439174?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=link

Seven of the team have sought and received humanitarian visas. Although the report is ‘at least’ seven.

“At least seven members of Iran’s women’s football team have now sought asylum in Australia, the ABC understands.

Five of the 13-player squad were granted asylum on Monday, amid fears they would face persecution if they returned home.

Sources have told the ABC that figure has now risen to at least two more, including one who is understood to have refused to board a flight at Sydney airport at the last minute”

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/mar/10/iran-womens-football-team-asylum-australia

I thought that. I wonder if they were offered asylum too. I feel sorry for all of them including the women who stayed in Oz.

Here is some footage of getting the first five out of the hotel.

x.com/coachblade/status/2031377913958871355?s=46

I hope that firstly the minders and everyone else was secretly on board with this and secondly that that footage is shown as “proof” they tried to get them back. Because really if they had stuck with them like glue, they wouldn’t have had to do all that chuntering up and down the stairs.

I’m not convinced we should’ve seeing their faces. If there are fundamentalists in Oz, these women will remain at risk.

Yes I'd like to think that's how it was planned...

In reponse to the reply about "western" dress, you do NOT see women in Iran walking in the street in leggings.

And even if some women where a form of trousers they are loose fitting and nearly always paired with a long tunic or dress.

As the pictures show, the leggings worn to play football, allow the women's legs to be clearly defined up to the top of the leg.

That's the point I was making.

As many women have said how inhibiting and restricting it is to be draped from hear to foot in loose clothing.

It restricts free movement, and impedes carrying out tasks.

So just to repeat, really strange that when it is football women are allowed to wear leg revealing clothes for western men to look at, but which would not be allowed on the street or in homes in Iran.

Everything isn't just about the hijab.