The five Iranian footballers granted asylum initially feared for their future in Australia due to the language barrier and employment concerns – and they were also initially terrified of local police, it has been revealed.
Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Ghanbari, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramezanizadeh and Mona Hamoudi successfully applied for humanitarian visas from the Australian government.
It followed the quintet of stars, on local shores for the Asian Cup, escaping their handlers at a Gold Coast hotel on Monday.
Last night, two additional team members – player Mohadeseh Zolfi and team procurement manager Fleur Meshkin-Kar – also decided to stay in Australia.
The rest of the women’s national squad are flying home to the Middle East via Malaysia.
It comes after the Iranian players attracted global headlines when they refused to sing their national anthem before their opening Women’s Asian Cup match against South Korea on March 2.
Iran captain Zahra Ghanbari (pictured, second from left), Mona Hamoudi (centre) and Atefeh Ramezanizadeh (right) have all been granted asylum in Australia
Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke, is pictured with two women from the Iranian women’s Asian Cup squad who were granted humanitarian visas on Tuesday
Mona Hamoudi (pictured) was one of the five Iranian footballers who first received humanitarian visas from the Australian government
As the Islamic regime’s anthem played, the players and coach Marziyeh Jafari stood in silence, less than 48 hours after the US announced Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed.
Days later on the Gold Coast, the team and support staff performed and saluted their national anthem before taking on the Matildas.
Harrowing footage then emerged from Iran, with the players who stayed silent labelled ‘wartime traitors’ who must be dealt with severely.
Now it can be revealed migration agent Naghmeh Danai informed the five initial players of their options for asylum.
She said it was a stressful situation for the footballers, and added that the Iranian regime attempted to ‘brainwash’ players, urging them to return home.
‘They were under a lot of stress. They didn’t know what to do, they were worried about their family, their assets in Iran,’ she told ABC News.
‘They wanted to stay, but they were worried about the consequences because, you know, how the government of Iran… can confiscate everything.’
Danai added the players wanted clarity over issues such as their right to work in Australia and how they would adapt given they don’t speak English.
The footballers were also fearful of the Australian police based on their dealings with Iranian authorities.
The Iranian footballers granted asylum after they escaped their handlers at a Gold Coast hotel on Monday (pictured, with Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke)
The Iran players were said to be in good spirits after humanitarian visas were signed off by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke (pictured)
The Iranian football team refused to sing their national anthem before their first match of the Asian Cup on the Gold Coast on March 2 against South Korea (pictured)
Daily Mail understands teammates Gooloosh Khosravi and Mohadeseh Zolfi have also decided to stay in Australia, as has the team’s Procurement Manager Fleur Meshkin-Kar (pictured, Iran fans at an Asian Cup match against the Philippines on the Gold Coast)
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has since confirmed each player from Iran’s Asian Cup squad was given the option to either return to their families, or start a new life in Australia.
‘We made sure there was no rushing. There was no pressure. Everything was about ensuring the dignity for those individuals to make a choice,’ he said.
‘They were emotional meetings…I can’t begin to imagine what people have been weighing up.
‘These individuals were meeting a government that said, the choice is up to you, and here is the opportunity if you want to take it, but the choice and the dignity of that decision is yours as Australians.
‘We should be proud that we are that sort of country.’
