Protect Iranian Athletes Seeking to Defect

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The sequence of events defied belief. Several members of the Iranian women's soccer team were participating in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Asian Cup, currently ongoing in Australia. They refused to sing Iran's national anthem during a match and expressed a desire to seek asylum. However, some of the athletes later reportedly changed their minds and flew home. Still, it wasn't clear that they really wanted to return to Iran.

Today's Iran is not a society where freedom of speech and expression is guaranteed. Iranian state media and other Iranian media criticized these athletes for not singing the national anthem, deeming their refusal to be a "protest against the government of their motherland."

Did the players subsequently come to fear that they or their family members might be harmed? Has the safety of those athletes who changed their minds and returned home been guaranteed? Concern continues to grow about what might happen to them.

The Iranian Imperial Flag is displayed by fans during the AFC Women's Asian Cup Group A match between South Korea and Iran at Robina Stadium on the Gold Coast, Australia, March 2, 2026. (Dave Hunt/AAP/ via Reuters)

Sequence of Events

Whether these athletes seek asylum or return to Iran, Iranian authorities must not persecute these athletes or their families. The international community and sports organizations, such as the AFC, must step up and demand that Iran guarantee the athletes' security. And they must continue to monitor the situation to make sure Tehran keeps its promise.

The war against Iran by the United States and Israel began after the athletes had already landed in Australia. They did not sing the national anthem because Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was assassinated shortly before the start of the March 2 match against South Korea.

In Iran, singing the national anthem at international sporting events is considered a demonstration of loyalty to the state. It must have been a very difficult decision to refuse to sing the national anthem even while their homeland was at war. Meanwhile, an Iranian state television presenter harshly criticized the athletes, declaring, "Traitors should face severe consequences."

Subsequently, the Australian government issued humanitarian visas to six athletes and one staff member who had requested asylum. However, five of them have since changed their minds and decided to return home.

Australia Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke poses with (from left) Fatemeh Pasandideh, Mona Hamoudi, Atefeh Ramezanizadeh, Zahra Ghanbari and Zahra Sarbali, the five women from the Iranian women's soccer team who were granted humanitarian visas, in Queensland, Australia, March 9, 2026. (Tony_Burke on X/Handout via Reuters)

Protecting Athletes and Civilians

A British newspaper article cited an Iranian resident in Australia who assisted in the defection. It reported that one of "those seeking to defect" passed on messages from the regime. He allegedly played audio messages from family members to the players to persuade them to return home. There are also suspicions that the families of the players were threatened by the regime. Australian authorities have not confirmed the contents of the report.

Iranian authorities brutally suppressed antigovernment demonstrations that have taken place throughout the country. According to Amnesty International, police killed at least 28 demonstrators in the first three days of 2026 alone. The Iranian government has also drawn international condemnation for its persecution of Narges Mohammadi, a human rights activist and 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Mohammadi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her fight for women's rights and freedom for the Iranian people.

Two Japanese nationals, including the head of national broadcaster NHK's Tehran bureau, have also been detained in Iran. The Japanese government should continue demanding the immediate release of its citizens. Tokyo should also strive to provide international support to individuals and organizations fighting against oppression in that nation.