Iran women’s soccer team sings Anthem ahead of final Asian Cup match

Iran’s women soccer team faces scrutiny over anthem performance amid fears for their safety in Australia

The Iran women’s soccer team sang and saluted their national anthem ahead of their final Women’s Asian Cup match against the Philippines women’s national soccer team on Sunday. This came six days after their decision to remain silent during the anthem in an earlier match led to state TV back home labelling them “wartime traitors.”

The team, whose situation has drawn international attention among human rights campaigners in Australia, were eliminated from the tournament following a 2-0 defeat to the Philippines at Gold Coast Stadium.

Their campaign in Australia began just as airstrikes were launched by the U.S. and Israel on their homeland, killing Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. During the tournament opener against South Korea on March 2, the players declined to sing the anthem, a decision criticized on Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting as showing a lack of patriotism and described as the “pinnacle of dishonour.”

The team did sing the anthem and salute before their second defeat against the host nation on Thursday, prompting concerns among Australian human rights advocates that the players might have been coerced by government minders.

A petition launched on Change.org on Friday calling for Australia to provide refuge for the team had gathered over 51,000 signatures by late Sunday. The petition urged Tony Burke, Australia’s Home Affairs Minister, to ensure the team did not leave the country “while credible fears for their safety remain.”

However, Iran coach Marziyeh Jafari told reporters that the team was eager to return home, saying, “We are very impatiently waiting to return. Personally, I would like to return to my country as soon as possible and be with my compatriots and family.”

Burke did not comment on the petition, and Penny Wong, Australia’s Foreign Minister, stated in televised remarks that she did not want to “get into commentary about the Iranian women’s team,” while acknowledging, “Obviously this is a regime that we know has brutally cracked down on its people.”

International players’ union FIFPRO had previously urged the Asian Football Confederation and FIFA to uphold human rights obligations and take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of Iran’s squad in the wake of the broadcast.