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muriel_volestrangler

(106,056 posts)

3. Two more Iranians seek asylum in Australia after football team flies out - reports

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Tue Mar 10, 2026, 12:43 PM

12 hrs ago

Two more members of the Iranian women’s football team have reportedly sought asylum in Australia after refusing to board a flight back to their home country after competing in the Women’s Asian Cup tournament.

A plane left Sydney airport on Tuesday night local time for Malaysia, reports said, with players and staff, ending a dramatic two days when five players were granted asylum after refusing to return home.

But that number rose to seven on Tuesday night, according to multiple reports, when two more members of the group decided to remain in Australia.

Reports said the squad left Sydney at 10.43pm local time on Malaysia Airlines flight MH140 bound for Kulala Lumpur but it was not clear what route they would take back to Iran after that because the country’s airspace is closed due to the Middle East conflict.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/mar/10/iran-womens-football-team-asylum-australia

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