Iranian women’s football team stuck in Australia over transit refusal VIDEO

The Iranian women's soccer team is effectively stranded in Australia, as no country is currently allowing them to transit back to Iran, a source told CNN Sports.

Earlier on March 10, the team bus departed the hotel and was reportedly on its way to Gold Coast Airport.

However, sports journalist Raha Pourbakhsh told CNN Sports that the team has been unable to exit the country since then.

Pourbakhsh added that two further members of the team, a player and a coach, have also sought asylum.

They joined five players who were granted humanitarian visas by the Australian government on the morning of March 10. The rest of the team is thought to be staying in Sydney overnight.

The women’s team had been in Australia to participate in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. Authorities fear that upon returning to Iran, the players could face punishment for refusing to sing the national anthem during last week’s match. 

Previously, Australia granted humanitarian visas to five members of the Iranian women’s football team who requested asylum after being accused of betrayal for not singing the national anthem before the game.

By Jeyhun Aghazada