What began as a silent protest by members of Iran’s women’s national football team has escalated into an international asylum case after several players refused to sing the national anthem during the AFC Women’s Asian Cup and later sought protection in Australia.
The moment occurred before Iran’s opening match in the tournament, when a number of players stood silently while the anthem played. The gesture quickly drew attention amid growing tensions in Iran, where political unrest has intensified following recent military strikes involving the United States and Israel.
Anthem protest sparks backlash
Reports indicate that after the silent protest, Iranian state media labelled some of the players “traitors”, raising concerns among the squad about their safety if they returned home.
Soon after leaving the stadium, players were seen flashing the international SOS hand signal from the team bus windows — a gesture widely recognised as a silent plea for help.
Videos of the moment spread quickly across social media platforms. Outside the bus, protesters reportedly gathered and shouted slogans such as “Free our girls”, urging the players not to return to Iran.
Late-night escape from team hotel
Behind the scenes, several members of the squad had already begun contacting Australian authorities about their safety.
Late Monday night, five players quietly left their team hotel on the Gold Coast with assistance from the Australian Federal Police.
Among those who escaped was team captain Zahra Ghanbari. The players were taken to a secure location and later granted visas allowing them to remain in Australia while applying for asylum.
By the time Iranian officials realised what had happened, the players were already under police protection.
Fear and uncertainty for remaining players
Not all members of the team chose the same path. Some players reportedly wanted to seek asylum but feared retaliation against their families back in Iran.
Others stayed with the squad and eventually boarded flights home. At the airport, some players were again seen flashing the SOS signal through bus windows in what appeared to be a final plea for help.
The episode has highlighted the growing intersection of sports, politics and human rights, leaving the world watching closely to see what happens next for those who returned to Iran.