Simon Atkinson,Australia /Gabriela Pomeroy BBC News
Two members of Iran’s national women’s football team who sought asylum in Australia have been pictured training at the grounds of the A-league football team Brisbane Roar.
“Everything will be fine,” one of them, Fatemeh Pasandideh, posted on Instagram.
She and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh were among seven Iranian footballers who originally said they were seeking asylum on their trip to the Women’s Asian Cup in Australia but the other five changed their minds.
The footballers were given humanitarian visas to stay in Australia after concerns the team would face repercussions for declining to sing the Iranian national anthem at their opening Asian Cup match.
The five players who changed their mind have now left Australia and are believed to be on their way home.
Brisbane Roar women’s squad posted photos of Pasandideh and Ramezanisadeh smiling with other team members, on the club’s social media accounts.
Brisbane Roar FC Chief Executive Kaz Patafta said the team “officially welcomed both to the club’s training facilities to take part in training with our A-League Women squad”.
He said the team was committed to providing a “supportive environment for them whilst they navigate the next stages” but the club would not be commenting further.
After the team declined to sing the national anthem at the Women’s Cup on 2 March, the players were moved to Brisbane, about an hour’s drive north from the Gold Coast where they had been staying with their teammates before giving minders the slip and going into the protection of Australian Federal Police.
Human rights activists have said the women who left may have been pressured to reverse their decisions through threats against their families.
After the news of the first five players being granted visas broke, the Brisbane club released a statement last Tuesday, saying they wanted to welcome the Iranian footballers.
They had been watching the story of the Iran women’s team “with immense admiration”, the club said.
“These are elite footballers – passionate, talented women who love the game just as deeply as we do.
“Brisbane is home to one of the country’s most passionate football communities, and the Roar family has a big heart.
“We’d be honoured to open our doors and offer you a place to train, play, and belong and will begin to explore how to make this happen. No politics. No conditions. Just football, community, and a warm welcome. Queensland is your home now.”
The drama around the Iranian team unfolded against the background of the war back in their home country which erupted on 28 February when Israel and the US launched joint air strikes.
