MELBOURNE, Australia: Two members of the Iranian women’s football team who claimed asylum in Australia in March have been granted citizenship. Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh said in a statement Thursday that Immigration Minister Tony Burke swore them in the day before at a citizenship ceremony in their Australian home city of Brisbane. Friends and supporters from the local Iranian community attended the ceremony. “Yesterday was a truly special and unforgettable day for me. I feel proud and deeply grateful to become an Australian citizen.

Two Iranian soccer players who defied Tehran and stayed in Australia after the AFC Women’s Asian Cup tournament in March have become Australian citizens.

Sie haben beim Asien-Cup in Australien die Hymne Irans nicht mitgesungen und wurden danach angefeindet. Nun haben zwei iranische Fußballerinnen eine neue Heimat gefunden.