Remaining players leave Australia amid drama and tears
The remaining members of the Iranian women’s football team have left the potential haven of Australia and begun their journey home to an embattled and uncertain future.
But his final moments in Australia were marked by tears, apparent reluctance and, in the final moments before boarding, at least one player opting to join five other teammates and stay in Australia.
Members of the team known as the Lionesses, accompanied by chaperones and handlers, spoke to the masthead via a translation app at Sydney Airport on Tuesday night as they waited to board a flight to Kuala Lumpur.
Many of the women whose names this article chose not to name repeated the same message: They want to go home to their families.
When asked what happened to the five teammates who remained in Australia, one player simply replied: “They became refugees.”
When asked if she wanted to be a refugee and if Iran was safe, the young woman nodded.
“Iran is at home.”
Protesters claimed their families sent them messages telling them to stay away, while two other women said they spoke to their families.
One girl shrugged when asked about power outages in Iran. Another started talking, then turned to the companion, who repeated the same message.
“They are happy to see their families”
However, some members’ body language told a different story. The last woman to board the plane did so with tears streaming down her face. One woman was missing and another sat on the couch, refusing to leave.
They were surrounded by AFP and NSW police officers, who had a heavy presence near the group. Officers refused to see if the woman ran away.
Five players on the team chose to stay in Australia after a dramatic intervention and closed-door meetings.
Managers of the remaining players fled protesters as the team left their hotel on the Gold Coast and was taken to Coolangatta airport before flying to Sydney. On arrival at Sydney Airport, they were taken off the domestic flight and put on a private bus to be transferred to the international terminal.
There was a delay while the team went through border patrol due to the possibility that more players may have chosen to remain in Australia. As two of the old women passed through the doors, an officer carried a stack of passports into the next room, and the players remained behind for a long time.
One player was pulled away from the others by officers, but eventually returned.
The women, who always had chaperones with them, were wandering around stores and texting while they waited for their flights.
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Amber Schultz is a crime and justice reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect with: X or email.
