Iranian footballers safe here: Australian PM

"Australians have been moved by the plight of these brave women. They're safe here, and they should feel at home here,'' Albanese said. The players - Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Ghanbari, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramezanizadeh and Mona Hamoudi - reportedly escaped from team handlers at a hotel on Australia's Gold Coast following their participation in the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup, reported Channel 9 News.

The dramatic operation unfolded overnight, with the players assisted by Australian authorities before being moved to a secure location. Australia's Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that humanitarian visas had been approved after a late-night process by the Department of Home Affairs. 

"I signed off last night for their applications to go onto humanitarian visas and a little bit after 1.30am this morning the processing was completed by the Department of Home Affairs," Burke said.

The players had travelled to Australia for the continental tournament but concerns about their safety emerged after the team refused to sing the Iranian national anthem ahead of their opening match against South Korea. The act was widely interpreted as a sign of protest and sparked backlash from Iranian state media, which reportedly labelled the players as "traitors."

Following their final group-stage match against the Philippines, reports indicated that some players made gestures signalling distress as the team bus left the stadium. Activists and members of the Iranian diaspora in Australia also urged authorities to allow the athletes to remain in the country, citing fears they could face punishment if forced to return to Iran. The situation drew international attention, with Donald Trump urging the Australian government to provide asylum to the players. Trump also raised the issue in a phone call with Anthony Albanese, expressing concern about the women's safety if they were sent back to Iran. -- ANI