Two members of the Iranian women’s soccer team who sought asylum in Australia have confirmed that their decision to remain silent during the national anthem at the Women’s Asian Cup in March was a protest against Tehran.
Atefeh Ramezanisadeh, 34, and Fatemeh Pasandideh, 22, detailed their reasons in their first media interview since becoming refugees, broadcast Sunday on Australia’s “60 Minutes” current affairs program.
"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 stated through an interpreter.
The team faced criticism in Iran and was labeled as traitorous in domestic media for not singing the anthem before their opening match against South Korea on March 2. While some interpreted the silence as resistance and others as mourning for those affected by attacks on their homeland, the team offered no official explanation at the time.
Following the protest, demonstrators in Australia called for the team to be granted asylum before their departure from Sydney on March 10.
Ramezanisadeh and Pasandideh said their silence was a protest against the Iranian government's severe response to nationwide demonstrations against its rule. Ramezanisadeh noted that remaining silent “could have meant any form of torture” for her, but it provided her with peace and a clear conscience.
"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.
At the time, Australian Immigration Minister Tony Burke stated that no players had been offered asylum. However, the situation escalated when U.S. President Donald Trump publicly called for the team to be granted asylum and contacted Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Albanese informed Trump that four players and a team manager had accepted offers of humanitarian visas. Ultimately, seven members of the team accepted Australia’s asylum offer, but only Ramezanisadeh and Pasandideh have maintained their decisions. They now play for the Wynnum Wolves semi-professional soccer team in Brisbane and became Australian citizens in August.
Ramezanisadeh recounted that Iranian authorities, through her parents, urged her return, assuring her safety. However, she refused, stating her commitment to not remain indifferent to the ongoing violence against young people in Iran. "I couldn’t stay silent, even though I miss my family so much,” she said.
Both players have had no contact with their families in recent months but understand their relatives have not faced repercussions. Pasandideh expressed a desire to return to Iran only when circumstances change and the people are free and thriving.