The first hint something was up, was when we spotted a small group of Iranian footballers in the hotel lobby.
We counted at least three players, wearing black headscarves and dressed in the team's grey shirts, chatting with four people we suspected at the time - and now know - were Iranians from the local community here on Australia's Gold Coast.
What stood out at the time was the ease with which they were talking together. They were casual, smiley, sometimes laughing. They looked comfortable.
How was this possible? Much had been said about the 26-member squad being watched, not given access to the internet, unable to talk to anyone outside their group. So that was our biggest question mark. Where was their minder?
Concerns about the team's safety were first sparked when footage of a state TV host emerged calling them "traitors" who ought to be punished after they declined to sing the national anthem at their first AFC Women's Asian Cup match last week.
