A fifth member of the Iranian women’s football team has withdrawn their claim of asylum in Australia.
The Federal Government has confirmed the player left the country overnight after requesting to return home to the war-torn country.
It comes after a total of seven team members were granted humanitarian visas by the Australian government last week over fears for their lives if they returned to Iran.
The fears were sparked after some of the players refused to sing the Iranian national anthem during an Asian Cup clash on the Gold Coast.
The Home Affairs Minister said the Government gave the women multiple chances to reconsider their request to return home.
“While the Australian government can ensure that opportunities are provided and communicated, we cannot remove the context in which the players are making these incredibly difficult decisions,” Tony Burke said.
“The Australian government has done everything we could to make sure these women were provided with the chance for a safe future in Australia.”
Treasurer Jim Chalmers admitted he is concerned for their safety.
“I am worried about them. I can only imagine the pressure that they felt and how difficult these sorts of decisions would be for them,” he told Seven.
“The job was always to provide the opportunity for them to stay if they wanted to. We can’t and haven’t sought to compel an outcome for obvious reasons, and I hope they are okay.”
Just two women from the Iranian women’s football team remain in Australia.
