Iranian women’s footballers Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh on Friday thanked the Australian government for offering them a «safe haven» and said they wanted to resume their sporting careers after rebuilding their lives.
In their first public comments since receiving humanitarian visas, the players said in a statement that the compassion and support shown to them had given them hope for a future where they could live and compete safely.
“We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the Australian Government, and in particular to Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, for providing humanitarian protection and safe haven in this beautiful country,” they said.
Australia initially granted humanitarian visas to six players and one support staff member of the Iran squad after Australia’s Asian Cup campaign began, just as the United States and Israel launched air strikes on Iran.
Five of the group subsequently changed their minds and decided to return home, leaving only Pasandideh and Ramezanisadeh in Australia.
The duo started training with A-League Women’s team Brisbane Roar last month.
“At this stage, our primary focus is on our safety, our health and starting the process of rebuilding our lives,” they said.
“We are top athletes and it remains our dream to continue our sporting careers here in Australia.”
Concerns about the safety of the Iranian players surfaced after several players failed to sing the national anthem during an Asian cup match, with Iranian state television labeling them as «wartime traitors.»
The rest of the team arrived home in Iran via the Turkish border last month after a fraught return journey from Australia.
Published on April 17, 2026
