'No conditions': A-League club welcomes Iran players
The Brisbane Roar said it is honoured to have two members of Iran's national women's football team who sought asylum in Australia, training and playing with the A-League women's team.
Images of Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh training with the squad were posted by the team to social media on Monday, with Roar chief executive Kaz Patafta welcoming the players.
"These are elite footballers - passionate, talented women who love the game just as deeply as we do," Patafta said.
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"Brisbane is home to one of the country's most passionate football communities, and the Roar family has a big heart.
"We'd be honoured to open our doors and offer you a place to train, play, and belong and will begin to explore how to make this happen. No politics. No conditions. Just football, community, and a warm welcome. Queensland is your home now."https://twitter.com/brisbaneroar/status/2033479104385937685?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Pasandideh and Ramezanisadeh were among seven Iranian footballers who originally said they were seeking asylum on their trip to the Women's Asian Cup in Australia, but the other five changed their minds.
Human rights activists say the women who left may have been pressured to reverse their decisions through threats against their families.
According to reports, messages have been relayed to the players through members of the team's staff urging them to return to Iran.
It's understood a player who had originally sought asylum has been passing on messages from Iranian football officials to players, encouraging them to leave Australia.
Remaining members of the squad were later moved to Kuala Lumpur, where the players have been kept under tight supervision in a hotel.
Reports state journalists have been barred from entering and some players have had their mobile phones confiscated or are allowed to use them only under the supervision of Iran officials.







