ISTANBUL: The Iranian women’s soccer team arrived in Istanbul on Tuesday on their way home from Malaysia, after five players withdrew the asylum claims they had lodged in Australia.
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Australia had granted humanitarian visas to six players and one support staff member after they sought asylum, saying they feared persecution if they returned to Iran.
Concerns over their safety surfaced after several players failed to sing the national anthem at a women’s Asian Cup match earlier this month.
Five of the group have since changed their minds and decided to return home, with Australian media reporting the latest withdrawal on Monday.
