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The Iranian women’s football team, whose plight has become embroiled in the Middle East war, returned back to Iran on Wednesday where they were promised a welcome ceremony in Tehran.
Seven members of the delegation had sought asylum in Australia last week after their decision not to sing the national anthem before their opening game at the Women’s Asian Cup.
With their demands for protection an embarrassment for Iran’s leaders, but lauded by US President Donald Trump, five later changed their minds, including captain Zahra Ghanbari.
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Activists have accused Iranian authorities of pressuring the women’s families — including summoning parents for interrogations — but Tehran has in turn alleged that Australia sought to force the athletes to defect.
Two members have remained in Australia, but the rest of the team completed a long journey back on Wednesday via Malaysia, Oman and then to Istanbul and Turkey’s overland Gurbulak-Bazargan border crossing with Iran.
AFP reporters saw them cross into Iran on a bus, wearing the national team tracksuits and with their hair covered.
In a post on X, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the players and their support team were “children of the homeland, and the people of Iran embrace them”.
By returning, they had “disappointed the enemies (of Iran) and did not surrender to deception and intimidation by anti-Iran elements,” he added.
Iranian news agency Mehr published images of a small welcome party waving flags on the Iranian side of the border, as well as the team and staff sat on a stage with a red carpet.
“We have all gathered here to say well done and to express our appreciation,” the president of Iran’s Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, was quoted as saying.
“Although they are women, they showed manly courage and strength,” he added.
In a sign of their symbolic importance to Iranian authorities, a larger welcoming ceremony has been organised on Thursday at 8:00 PM (1630 GMT) in Valiasr Square where other pro-government rallies have taken place in recent weeks, Iranian media reported.
Rights groups have accused Tehran of systematically pressuring athletes abroad by threatening relatives with the seizure of property if they defect or make statements against the Islamic republic.
The Iranian women fell silent as the national anthem played ahead of an Asian Cup match in Australia, which was interpreted as act of defiance towards the country’s leaders.
Although the side sang Iran’s anthem — an ode to the glory of the Islamic republic — in later matches, human rights activists warned the damage was done.
An Iranian state TV presenter branded the players “wartime traitors”, fuelling fears they faced persecution, or worse, if they returned.
Five players, including captain Ghanbari, slipped away from the team hotel under the cover of darkness to claim asylum in Australia on March 10.
Two more delegation members — a player and a support staffer — were later granted asylum.
Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the government had spent days in secret talks with the players, who were whisked to a safe house after leaving their hotel on the Gold Coast.
Iranian authorities had accused Australia of pressuring the players to stay.
Formula One races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have been cancelled as the Middle East war engulfs the region, motorsport’s governing body the FIA announced on Saturday.
“It has been confirmed today that, after careful evaluations, due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East region, the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix will not take place in April,” the International Automobile Federation (FIA) said in a statement.
“While several alternatives were considered, it was ultimately decided that no substitutions will be made in April.
“The decision has been taken in full consultation with Formula One Group, local promoters and our member clubs in the region.”
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Bahrain had been scheduled as the fourth Grand Prix this season to take place on April 10-12, with the Saudi race a week later.
The Gulf has been battered by two weeks of Iranian drone and missile attacks after the United States and Israel started their war on Iran.
Tiny Bahrain, a short hop over the Gulf sea from Iran, has been targeted with frequent attacks that have hit buildings and a refinery, as well as its large US military base.
Saudi Arabia has also weathered scores of strikes, some of them targeting the oil infrastructure that is crucial for the world’s biggest exporter of crude.
“The FIA will always place the safety and wellbeing of our community and colleagues first,” FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said.
“After careful consideration, we have taken this decision with that responsibility firmly in mind.
“We continue to hope for calm, safety and a swift return to stability in the region, and my thoughts remain with all those affected by these recent events.
“Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are incredibly important to the ecosystem of our racing season, and I look forward to returning to both as soon as circumstances allow.
“My sincere thanks to the promoters, our partners, and our colleagues across the championship for the collaborative and constructive approach that has led to this decision.”
Kimi Antonelli took pole position for Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix ahead of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton and was asked by AFP in Shanghai about the possible cancellation of the Middle East races.
“My thoughts, and I think it’s the same for Lewis and George, are with the ones that are suffering from this situation,” said the 19-year-old Mercedes driver.
“Formula One and the FIA, they will handle the situation the best way possible in order to guarantee everyone’s safety.”
The Japanese Grand Prix will take place on March 27-29 with the following Formula One race now slated for the Miami Grand Prix on May 1-3.
Formula 2, Formula 3 and F1 Academy rounds will also not take place during their scheduled slots in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Neighbouring Qatar has also been targeted, with the first round of the World Endurance Championship (WEC) scheduled for March 26-28 now postponed until October.
Louisiana State University sprinter Ella Onojuvwevwo became the fastest woman in the world indoors this season and set a new African indoor 400 metres record on the opening day of the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas on Friday, running a time of 50.28 seconds in her preliminary heat to produce one of the most significant single-race performances by a Nigerian athlete in the recent history of collegiate track.
The 20-year-old from Ughelli in Delta State dominated her heat from the moment it began, moving clear of the field within the first 200 metres and crossing the finish line in a performance that simultaneously rewrote three record books.
The time of 50.28 is the fifth-fastest 400 metres ever run indoors in NCAA Division I competition and stands as the current world-leading mark for the indoor season, placing her at the top of the global indoor rankings with Saturday’s final still to run.
