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Iran releases assets of women's football captain in Australia asylum row
Zahra Ghanbari, one of the six players who sought asylum in Australia, reversed her decision and returned to Iran.Iran’s judiciary says the assets of the country’s women’s football team captain have been released by local authorities, reversing an earlier decision to seize them after the player sought and then withdrew an asylum claim in Australia last month.“The assets of Zahra Ghanbari, a footballer for the Iranian women’s national team, which had been seized, were released by court decision,” Iran’s Mizan news agency said on Monday.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Iran says captain of women’s football team withdraws Australia asylum bidlist 2 of 3Iran women’s football team feted in Tehran after asylum battle at Asian Cuplist 3 of 3Iranian women footballers reveal ‘enormous pressure’ of the Asian Cup sagaend of listIt added that the move was taken after “a declaration of innocence following her change in behaviour”.Ghanbari was among a group of six players and one backroom staff member who sought asylum in Australia in March after playing in the Women’s Asian Cup at the start of the US-Israel war on Iran.At that time, Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said his country had offered asylum to all players and support staff members before their departure to Iran over fears they might be punished upon their return home after the team refused to sing Iran’s national anthem at the tournament.But five of them, including Ghanbari, later changed their minds and returned to Iran along with the rest of the team. They were given a hero’s welcome at a special ceremony in central Tehran on March 19.The announcement came two days after Iranian media published a list of people they termed “traitors”, whose assets had been frozen by court order following the outbreak of the war on February 28.Ghanbari’s name appeared on the list, although it was not immediately clear when the decision to freeze her assets had been taken.Earlier this month, two players who sought asylum in Australia before changing their minds told Al Jazeera they faced “enormous pressure” over their decision.“I felt that any mistake could become a huge problem,” said Mona Hamoudi, one of the players who returned to Iran. “Every step had to be thought about twice before being taken.”Amid the stifling pressure and the escalating war in Iran, a question consumed her: should she return home or seek asylum?“This dilemma caused me constant anxiety,” she said, “because every choice carried...
Iran releases assets of football captain in Australia asylum row
Zahra Ghanbari was among a group of six players and one backroom staff member who sought asylum in Australia in March after playing in the Women's Asian Cup at the start of the Israeli-US war against the Islamic republic.Five of them, including Ghanbari, later changed their minds and returned home along with the rest of the team and were given a hero's welcome at a special ceremony in central Tehran on March 19."The assets of Zahra Ghanbari, a footballer for the Iranian women's national team, which had been seized, were released by court decision," Mizan said. It added that the move was taken after "a declaration of innocence following her change in behaviour."The announcement came two days after Iranian media published a list of people they called "traitors" whose assets had been frozen by court order following the outbreak of the war with Israel and the United States on February 28.Ghanbari's name appeared on the list, although it was not immediately clear when the decision to freeze her assets had been taken. Rights groups have repeatedly accused Iranian authorities of pressuring athletes who compete abroad by threatening relatives or seizing property if they defect or make statements against the Islamic republic.In this case, campaigners accused Tehran of pressuring the women's families, including summoning their parents for interrogations by intelligence agents. Iranian authorities however alleged that Australia sought to force the athletes to defect. Six players and one backroom staff member initially sought asylum in Austrlia © Handout / AUSTRALIAN DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS/AFP/File The team had drawn criticism from hardliners in Iran after failing to sing the national anthem of the Islamic republic before their first match. They sang the anthem in later matches and it featured prominently in the welcome ceremony in Tehran.The controversy, against the background of the war, erupted with the Iranian men's team due to play in the World Cup in the United States in June.FIFA president Gianni Infantino told AFP last month in Turkey on the sidelines of an international friendly being played by Iran that "Iran will be at the World Cup" and play its group matches as scheduled in the US.Just two of the Iranian women's footballers remained in Australia and have been training with the club Brisbane Roar. © 2026 AFP
Iranian Female Football Captain's Assets Seized After Returning Home
The "Deception" Plot On March 10, Zahra (Flor) Meshkekar, the team's equipment manager, also requested asylum in Australia shortly before the team was set to fly from the Gold Coast to Sydney for their return to Iran.
Iran Returns Assets to National Team Player After Asylum Withdrawal
The Iranian judiciary announced on April 13, 2026, that authorities have released the seized assets of Zahra Ghanbari, the captain of the Iranian women's national football team. According to reporting from Al Arabiya and WION, the release of the assets follows Ghanbari's decision to withdraw her asylum request. The controversy began in March 2026 during the AFC Women's Asian Cup in Australia.
