Iranian women’s football team: Iran accuses Australia of ‘taking our girls hostage’ after women seek asylum

Tensions between Iran and Australia have erupted into a diplomatic row after several members of Iran’s women’s national football team remained in Australia seeking asylum following the Asian Cup.

President of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mehdi Taj, has lashed out at the Australian government over the incident, claiming Australian authorities are “taking our girls hostage” and intervened to remove players from the team’s hotel after the tournament.

“If the World Cup is like this, who in their right mind would send their national team to a place like this?” Mr Taj said on Iranian state television.

“The US president himself... tweeted two tweets about a women’s team (saying) ‘we welcome them and that they should become refugees’. He threatened Australia... How could one be optimistic about the World Cup that is supposed to be held in America?

“After the game, unfortunately, the Australian police came and intervened, removing one or two of the players from the hotel, according to the news we have.

“They are taking our girls hostage... They did a terrible thing.”

The comments come after at least seven Iranian players are believed to have remained in Australia rather than return home following the tournament, with five granted asylum after fleeing the team’s hotel.

Iranian Society of Queensland vice president Hadi Karimi confirmed the group’s escape but said he could not disclose details about how they managed to get away.

The situation drew the attention of Australia’s national team, with Matildas defender Ellie Carpenter among the first players to publicly voice concern.

Midfielder Clare Wheeler said the focus should remain on the well-being of the athletes caught in the unfolding crisis.

“My thoughts are with the team and obviously the girls who have decided that they would like to seek asylum,” she said.

“It is obviously a really complex situation. But it is great that football, with the growth of the women’s game, can shed light on these issues.

“At the end of the day, it is paramount that their health and well-being is protected.”

Wheeler added that the Matildas could do little more than trust authorities to protect the players.

“We trust in the AFC and the government to help protect” their well-being and safety, she said.

The incident also sparked international political attention after US President Donald Trump urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to intervene to ensure the players were protected.

The asylum requests came after the Iranian players were accused of treason on state television following a silent protest during the Asian Cup, when they refused to sing the national anthem before one of their matches.

In later games, the players sang the anthem and saluted as it played, although protesters claim they only did so under threat of violence.

The pressure escalated when Iranian state television presenter Mohammad Reza Shahbazi issued a stark warning directed at the athletes.

“Let me just say one thing: traitors during wartime must be dealt with more severely,” Shahbazi said, according to social media platform X’s translation.

“Anyone who takes a step against the country under war conditions must be dealt with more severely.

“This is no longer just a symbolic protest move or the like. In a war situation, in this state of affairs, where they strike and martyr students and seven-to-eight-year-old girls in schools, where they attack the neonatal ward of a hospital, where they hit stadiums.

“For you to go there and not sing the national anthem; this is the pinnacle of dishonour and lack of patriotism. Both the people and the officials should treat these individuals as wartime traitors, not as if they just had a protest or performed a symbolic act.

“The stigma of dishonour and betrayal must remain on their foreheads, and separately they must be dealt with properly.”

The warning carries particular weight in Iran, where treason can be punishable by death.

The controversy unfolded against the backdrop of escalating conflict in the Middle East after Iran was bombed by America and Israel before launching retaliatory strikes last week.