Two former Iranian women’s national team footballers, Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh, have officially become Australian citizens. They were among a group of seven athletes who sought asylum in Australia following a protest during the Asian Cup in March, where they opted not to sing the Iranian national anthem. This act led to them being labeled as traitors by authorities in their home country.
While five members of the group eventually returned to Iran, Pasandideh and Ramezanisadeh remained in Australia. They received their citizenship during a ceremony held on Wednesday, which was attended by Interior Minister Tony Burke. Both women expressed deep gratitude and pride regarding their new status.
Following their initial request for protection, the two athletes began training with the Brisbane Roar football club. The team has been supportive of the pair, stating that the door remains open for them to continue training. Meanwhile, the five players who returned to Iran were greeted by officials, including parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who praised their return as a victory over foreign influence.
