- Title: Iran's soccer team members 'welcome in Australia,' says defence minister
- Date: 12th March 2026
- Summary: JAKARTA, INDONESIA (MARCH 12, 2026) (REUTERS) AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE MINISTER RICHARD MARLES ENTERING NEWSER ROOM MARLES SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE MINISTER RICHARD MARLES SAYING: "Well, the six members of that party have taken up the opportunity of staying in Australia on a humanitarian visa. We are very pleased to have been able to make that offer and
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: Asylum Australia Conflict Crisis Defence Minister Iran Jakarta Protests Richard Marles Soccer Visa Women's soccer team
- Location: JAKARTA, INDONESIA / GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA
- City: JAKARTA, INDONESIA / GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA
- Country: Indonesia
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA002325812032026RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles said on Thursday (March 12) that six members of the Iranian women’s soccer team who took up the offer to remain in Australia on humanitarian visas will receive “all the assistance that people on humanitarian visas in Australia are given,” to rebuild their lives.
Earlier this week, Australia granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women soccer players after they sought asylum, fearing persecution on their return home for their refusal to sing the national anthem at a Women's Asian Cup match.
Earlier on Tuesday (March 10) a group of Iranians living in Australia gathered to protest against the Iranian government and surrounded the players' bus in Gold Coast in a bid to persuade the other players to stay in Australia, when they left the hotel for the airport.
Concerns about the players' safety upon their return home grew after Iranian state television labelled the team "wartime traitors" for refusing to sing the national anthem during an Asian Cup match that took place earlier in Australia this month.
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