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The captain of the Iranian women’s soccer team has withdrawn her asylum request to Australia, making her the fifth member of the squad to change her mind after the team’s participation in the Asian Cup, according to Iranian state media.
Zahra Gambari will fly to Iran from Malaysia within hours, IRNA news agency reported on Sunday.
Three players and one backroom staff member have already withdrawn their asylum claims and traveled from Australia to Malaysia, where the team was competing in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said Australia had offered asylum to all players and support staff before their departure, fearing they would be punished upon return after the team refused to sing the Iranian national anthem at the tournament.
Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported on Saturday that the three had given up seeking asylum in Australia and are now heading to Malaysia, and posted a photo of a woman who was said to have boarded the plane.
The news was confirmed by Mr. Burke a few hours later.
“Overnight, three members of the Iranian women’s soccer team made the decision to join the rest of the team and return to Iran,” Burke said.
“After informing the Australian authorities of this decision, the players were given a number of opportunities to discuss their options.”
Five players received offers and signed immigration papers last week, with one more player and staff member joining the next day. This leaves two Iranian players in Australia with the promise of asylum and a chance to settle.
After the United States and Israel began their war against Iran on February 28, Iran played three Asian Cup group stage matches at Gold Coast Stadium in Queensland on March 2, 5, and 8.
The first attack killed Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei and other leaders.
In all, an estimated 1,444 Iranians have been killed since the war began, including more than 170 inside an elementary school in the city of Minab, most of them girls.
Players of the Iranian women’s soccer team who refused to sing the Iranian national anthem during their first match were branded “traitors” by an IRIB host.
Three days later, in Iran’s second match against Australia, the players not only sang the national anthem but also saluted, raising concerns that the Iranian media backlash may have forced a change in attitude.
Neither players nor team management have explained why they refrained from singing before the first game, but fans and rights activists have speculated that it was an act of defiance against the Iranian government.
On the day the team departed Australia, Burke announced that the government had offered all players and staff the opportunity to remain in Australia.
Mr Burke told reporters on Tuesday that five Iranian players had decided to apply for asylum in Australia and would receive support from the government.
“They are welcome to stay in Australia, they feel safe here and they should feel like home here,” he said.
The next day, Burke confirmed that additional players and team support staff had obtained humanitarian visas hours before departure.
However, one player who had previously chosen to stay changed his mind and decided to return to Iran.
The player, later identified as Mohadese Zolfigor, changed his decision after taking advice from his teammates, Burke told the Australian Parliament.
“She was advised by her teammates and advised to contact the Iranian embassy,” he said.
The players, who managed to escape with the help of Iranian human rights activists, were taken to a safe location by Australian law enforcement officials, where they met with immigration officials and signed documents.
Beau Bush, Asia and Oceania president of player welfare organization FIFPRO, told Al Jazeera last week: “It is my understanding that all members of the team are being independently questioned by the Australian Federal Police.”
“(The players) were made aware of their rights and the support available to them. They certainly didn’t have to rush through that process.”
