Atefeh Ramezanisadeh and Fatemeh Pasandideh thanked Australia for protection and expressed hope to continue sporting careers after being granted humanitarian visas.
8:53 AM
Two members of Iran's women's football team who were granted asylum in Australia have released their first public statement, thanking the Australian government for providing them refuge and expressing their intention to rebuild their lives in the country.
Atefeh Ramezanisadeh and Fatemeh Pasandideh issued a joint statement on Friday, five weeks after being granted humanitarian visas. In the statement, they expressed gratitude to the Australian government and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke for offering them "a safe haven in this beautiful country."
The two players were among seven members of Iran's Asian Cup travelling party who decided to claim humanitarian asylum in Australia after the team exited the competition in March. However, five members of the group changed their minds and returned to Iran, leaving Ramezanisadeh and Pasandideh as the only two who remained.
The decision to seek asylum came amid concerns that the Iranian team would face repercussions for declining to sing the national anthem at their opening match, which occurred days after the outbreak of war.
In their statement, Ramezanisadeh and Pasandideh said that the compassion and support shown to them had provided them with "hope for a future where we can live and compete in safety." They described Australia as having given them hope for such a future.
The players stated that their primary focus at this stage is on their safety, health, and beginning the process of rebuilding their lives. Despite this, they emphasized that they remain elite athletes and that it remains their dream to continue their sporting careers in Australia.
The two players requested privacy and space as they navigate their new circumstances. "We respectfully ask for privacy and space," they said in the statement. "However, we are not yet ready to speak publicly about our experiences."
The statement was shared by Brisbane Roar, an A-League club that had invited the players to train with them last month. At the time of the invitation, Roar chief executive Kaz Patafta had indicated the club's support for the players' situation.
The players expressed their deepest gratitude to the Australian government for granting them humanitarian protection and for the safe haven the country has provided them during this period of transition.
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