Iran's women footballers granted visas and in 'safe location', says Australian PM Albanese

Australia has given visas to five members of the Iranian women's football team amid fears for their safety after they were criticised for not singing the national anthem.

They were in Australia for the Asian Cup when the Iran war began just over a week ago.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said officials had been preparing "for some time" and the home affairs minister travelled to Queensland to arrange the move.

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"Australians have been moved by the plight of these brave women. They are safe here and they should feel at home here," he said.

"Once it was made clear these women wanted assistance, the Australian federal police moved them to a safe location where they remain," Mr Albanese added.

President Trump said he had spoken to Mr Albanese and that five of the team had "been taken care of" - but indicated the others were returning home.

The Australian government had been under pressure to protect the women after they were knocked out the tournament.

The players were reportedly criticised on Iranian TV, with a commentator saying they had committed the "pinnacle of dishonour" for staying silent during the anthem before their match on 2 March - two days after the US and Israel began attacking Iran.

"Traitors during wartime must be dealt with more severely," presenter Mohammad Reza Shahbazi said, according to Reuters news agency.

Some believed the team's silence was an act of resistance, while others saw it as a show of mourning following the initial US-Israel attacks on their country.

The team has not made any specific comment on their stance.

They sang and saluted ahead of defeats to Australia on Thursday and the Philippines on Sunday, but there were concerns they had been ordered to do so.

The team failed to get past the group stage and players' union FIFPRO said it was "really concerned" about their welfare and had been unable to contact them.

Dozens of people chanted "let them go" and "save our girls" as the team's bus left the stadium on the Gold Coast after Sunday's match.

Supporters said they could see at least three players making the international hand signal for help, according to CNN.

Mr Trump said on Monday he had spoken to Prime Minister Albanese about the matter.

"He's on it!" Mr Trump posted on Truth Social.

"Five have already been taken care of, and the rest are on their way.

"Some, however, feel they must go back because they are worried about the safety of their families, including threats to those family members if they don't return."

'Ongoing threat'

Exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi, who lives in the US, said he had been told that Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Ghanbari, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramazanzadeh and Mona Hamoudi were now in a "safe location".

He earlier said the team faced an "ongoing threat" after their "brave act" not to sing the anthem.

"As a result of their brave act of civil disobedience in refusing to sing the current regime's national anthem, they face dire consequences should they return to Iran," he posted on social media.

The Australian Iranian Council had also urged the government to protect the players.

It launched an online petition asking authorities to "ensure that no member of Iran's women's national football team is to depart Australia while credible fears for their safety remain".

(c) Sky News 2026: Iran's women footballers granted visas and in 'safe location', says Australian PM Albanese