Australia grants asylum to 2 more members of Iran football delegation

Australia granted humanitarian visas to two more members of the Iranian women’s football delegation on Monday, with both opting to stay in the country because of fears for their ‌safety if they returned home.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said a player and a support staff member accepted the government’s offer, after five players from the team were granted asylum a day earlier.

“I made them the same offer that I made the five players the night before,” Burke told reporters. “If they wanted to receive a humanitarian visa for Australia, which would have ⁠a pathway to a permanent visa, I had the paperwork ready to execute that immediately.”

Australian officials talked ‌to most members of the team separately at Sydney airport and were informed of their options before they flew out of Australia.

“What we made sure of was ‌that there was no rushing, there was no pressure. Everything was about ensuring the ⁠dignity for those individuals ⁠to make a choice,” Burke said during a media briefing in Canberra.

Some discussed their options with family but they declined the ‌offer to remain in Australia. The team has reached Kuala Lumpur on their way to Iran.

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