Three other members of the Iranian women’s national football teams have left Australia again. This was announced by Australian Interior Minister Tony Burke. Accordingly, the three women decided to return to their homeland, which had been severely affected by the war.

The fate of the Iranian team had this week caused a big stir. After their elimination from the Asian Cup, five players initially applied for asylum in Australia. Another player and a member of the support staff followed suit shortly before departure on Wednesday, but one of the women changed her mind at the last minute.

In the first group game, the players were silent during the national anthem – in Iran this was seen as a sign against the leadership in Tehran. State media later described them as “traitors,” even though they sang along again in the following games.

Observers fear that women in Iran will face consequences. Or that their families will come under pressure if they do not return.