Kuala lumpur: The Iranian women's national football team has arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia, marking a step in their return journey home. The team has been in the Malaysian capital since March 11th, following their participation in the AFC Women's Asian Cup held in Sydney, Australia, where they faced elimination in the first round.

According to Thai News Agency, seven members of the team applied for asylum in Australia after becoming embroiled in controversy for choosing not to sing the national anthem during their first game. However, five of these players later withdrew their asylum applications, opting instead to return to Iran.

Windsor John, Secretary-General of the Asian Football Confederation, shared insights into the situation, stating that some of the players might need to travel to other locations temporarily as their immediate return to Iran is not feasible. He dispelled rumors suggesting that the players' families were experiencing pressure from Iranian authorities, reassuring that all players remained in good spirits based on his personal interactions with them.

In the context of asylum, only two Iranian players, midfielder Fatemeh Pasandideh and defender Atefeh Ramezanizadeh, remain in Australia. They have joined Brisbane Roar, an Australian top league club team, for training and are embarking on new lives as professional footballers. The Australian government has granted them humanitarian visas, allowing them to stay and work in the country. Meanwhile, the other five players who initially sought asylum have decided to return to their homeland.