The Iranian women’s soccer team, in Australia for last week’s Women’s Asian Cup, lost all three group-stage matches and is now under pressure to return home amid fears of persecution.
Before their opening match on March 2, the players remained silent during the national anthem—a gesture interpreted by some hardliners in Iran as disloyal.
Sources close to the team said that threats to their families forced the players to sing the anthem in the following two games.
On Tuesday, Iranian state media reported that the Attorney General’s office encouraged the squad to come back, framing their actions as “unintentional” and influenced by “enemy schemes.” The statement urged the players to return “with calm and confidence” to reassure their families and support
“the people of Iran in confronting conspiracies.”
Iran’s Minister of Sports, Ahmad Donyamali, also said that “enemies” had attempted to “distract” the players with “tempting offers,” adding that the team was now heading home to “the warm embrace of their families,” without providing further details.
