Iranian footballers break silence on asylum and anthem protest in Australia

Iranian footballers Atefeh Ramezanisadeh and Fatemeh Pasandideh have broken their silence over the protest that preceded their decision to seek asylum in Australia, confirming that their refusal to sing Iran's national anthem at the Women's Asian Cup was a deliberate act of defiance against Tehran.

The two players, who abandoned the Iranian delegation after the tournament and remained in Australia, spoke publicly for the first time since claiming asylum.

Their interview with Australia's 60 Minutes was broadcast on Sunday, shedding new light on a gesture that had sparked intense debate over whether the players were mourning their country amid the escalating conflict or protesting against Iran's government.

For Ramezanisadeh, 34, and Pasandideh, 22, the message was clear: they were standing with protesters back home.

‘We just wanted to stand with our people’

Iran's women's team had remained silent when the national anthem was played before their opening match against South Korea on March 2. The refusal immediately drew criticism in Iran, with sections of the country's media branding the players as traitors. At the time, however, the team did not publicly explain the decision.

The gesture came shortly after US and Israeli attacks on Iran began on February 28, leading some observers to interpret the silence as an act of mourning. Others saw it as an act of resistance against Tehran.

Ramezanisadeh has now confirmed that the latter was the reason for her silence. "We just wanted to stand with our people. I was scared at times, but I just tried to do what was right and say that no one should be killed just for protesting," Ramezanisadeh told Nine Network through an interpreter.

She acknowledged the enormous personal risk involved in refusing to sing the anthem. Ramezanisadeh said her silence "could have meant any form of torture" for her. "But at that moment, the only thing that gave me peace and a clear conscience was not singing it. I wanted to sing the anthem with pride and from my heart. But because of the situation in Iran, I really couldn't do it," she said.

Pasandideh was equally direct about what motivated her. "My people put their lives on the line and they were killed. Doing that was the absolute least we could do for them," Pasandideh said through an interpreter.

Silence becomes a turning point

The players' decision became even more significant after demonstrators in Australia called for the Iranian squad to be allowed to remain in the country rather than return home. The team eventually left Sydney on March 10, but the issue had already reached the highest levels of Australian politics.

Australian Immigration Minister Tony Burke said the players had not been promised asylum when they made their decision. "At that point, they had absolutely no information from us about the possibility of being able to stay," Burke said. "The silence of itself was deeply significant," he added. "The reaction was the volcanic moment."

The situation escalated further after then-US President Donald Trump publicly called for the Iranian players to be granted asylum and spoke to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about the issue. Albanese subsequently told Trump that four players and a team manager had accepted offers of humanitarian visas. Seven members of the Iranian delegation eventually accepted Australia's offer of asylum, but all except Ramezanisadeh and Pasandideh later changed their minds. The two women, meanwhile, decided to remain.

‘I couldn't stay silent’

Ramezanisadeh said the decision to stay in Australia came despite pressure from her parents, who urged her to return to Iran after receiving instructions from Iranian authorities. "They tried to reassure me, saying: Nothing will happen to you. This is your home. You must return home.' But I told them my mind was made up and I was not coming back," she said.

The decision has come at an enormous personal cost. "Thinking that I might never be able to see my family again was heartbreaking, but I couldn't allow myself to be indifferent while so many young people were being killed by this regime. I couldn't stay silent, even though I miss my family so much," she added.

Both players said they had not been in contact with their families in recent months, although they understood that their relatives had not been punished. Their decision to remain in Australia has also led to a new chapter in their football careers. Ramezanisadeh and Pasandideh now play for semi-professional club Wynnum Wolves in Brisbane and became Australian citizens in August.

‘I don't want to put their lives in danger’

Pasandideh said she had deliberately avoided asking her former teammates whether they wanted to return to Iran or whether they felt compelled to do so. "We decided not to talk because I don't want to put their lives in danger," she said.

Despite everything that has happened, her attachment to Iran remains strong. "One of my biggest dreams is to be able to go back to Iran, but in different circumstances when the situation in Iran has changed and the people of Iran are happy and thriving. Then I will go back and see my family," she added.