The Iranian women’s football team is set to leave Malaysia for Oman on Monday, a senior Asian football official confirmed, following the withdrawal of more team members from their asylum applications in Australia.
AFP reporters observed the team arriving at Kuala Lumpur International Airport shortly before 5:00 pm (0900 GMT). Dressed in their national team colors, the players stepped off a tour bus and proceeded directly to the check-in counters.
Earlier in the day, the team quietly left their hotel in Kuala Lumpur, avoiding reporters as they had since Wednesday. Most players declined to comment, though one told AFP, I am missing my family.
Windsor John, general secretary of the Asian Football Confederation, told AFP that the Iranian team had notified the confederation of their plans to fly to Oman, though he emphasized that Oman is not their final destination. They will be in Oman probably until they find flights to their next destination, he explained.
According to a source who requested anonymity, the team is expected to continue on from Oman to Istanbul, then travel to the eastern Turkish city of Van before returning to Iran.
Among those at the airport was Zahra Ghanbari, who withdrew her asylum application on Sunday, becoming the fifth member of the delegation to reverse their decision. A former player and a Persian-language TV channel based outside Iran have alleged that the players were pressured to change their stance through threats to their families back home. Meanwhile, Iranian officials have accused Australia of exerting pressure on the players to stay.
In recent days, three players and one member of the support staff had already withdrawn their asylum bids and traveled to Malaysia.
A total of seven members of the Iranian women’s football delegation competing in the Women’s Asian Cup initially sought asylum in Australia, after being branded traitors at home for refusing to sing the national anthem.
This football saga has unfolded amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, following US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran and widespread protests against the country’s clerical regime earlier this year.
With the team captain reportedly also withdrawing her asylum request, only two members of the delegation are now expected to remain in Australia.
AFP
