Iran tells female footballers to return home

After five players, including the captain of the Iranian women's football team, Zohra Ghanbari, sought political asylum in Australia, the country's foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghai called on them to "return home."

In a post on social media platform X, Baghai claimed that the players, who were on their way to play in a tournament in Australia, were being "held hostage."

He wrote, "They killed more than 165 innocent Iranian schoolgirls in a Tomahawk missile attack on the city of Minab, and now they want to hold our athletes hostage in the name of 'saving' them? This audacity and hypocrisy is shocking."

He also told the women's team, "Don't worry, members of the Iranian women's football team - Iran is waiting for you with open arms." Come home.’

The team was previously criticized on Iranian state television for refusing to sing the national anthem at the start of a match against South Korea, calling it “traitorous.”

Five members of the team were granted political asylum in Australia on Tuesday (March 10). They fled their hotel under cover of darkness and sought protection from Australian officials, before being taken to a safe house.

The images released show the players sitting around a table and Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke signing documents allowing them to stay in the country.

Earlier on Monday (March 9), US President Donald Trump announced that the Iranian women’s players would be granted asylum.

Source: Al Jazeera.