Several members of the Iran women’s national football team who had earlier sought asylum in Australia have decided to return to Iran, according to the Australian government.

 

Australia granted humanitarian visas to seven Iranian footballers last week after they requested protection, saying they feared persecution if they returned home following their refusal to sing the national anthem at a match during the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

 

However, four of the seven players have now chosen to leave Australia and return to Iran, while another player had earlier changed her decision about remaining in the country.

 

Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the players were repeatedly informed about their options before making their decision.

 

“After telling Australian officials they had made this decision, the players were given repeated chances to talk about their options,” Burke said in a statement.

 

He added that while the government ensured the players were aware of all opportunities available to them, it could not influence the complex circumstances surrounding their choices.

 

“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,” he said.

 

The Iranian Football Federation identified three of the players returning home as Mona Hamoudi, Zahra Sarbali and Zahra Meshkehkar.

 

According to the federation, the players would first reunite with the rest of the Iranian team in Malaysia before travelling to Tehran in the coming days.

 

The controversy surrounding the team began after Iranian state media labelled some of the players “wartime traitors” for not singing the national anthem before a match during the Asian Cup.

 

The Iranian side had already been eliminated from the tournament before the latest developments involving the players’ asylum requests.