Iranian footballers say anthem silence was protest against Tehran crackdown

Two members of the Iranian women's football team who sought asylum in Australia have confirmed that their refusal to sing the national anthem during the Women's Asian Cup in March was a deliberate protest against Tehran.

In their first media interview since leaving the team, Atefeh Ramezanisadeh, 34, and Fatemeh Pasandideh, 22, spoke to Australia's "60 Minutes" program. Both said the silent gesture was meant to show solidarity with protesters in Iran.

"We just wanted to stand with our people," Ramezanisadeh said through an interpreter. "I was scared at times, but I just tried to do what was right and say that no one should be killed just for protesting."

The team faced criticism in Iran and was branded as traitors in local media for remaining silent when the anthem was played before their opening match against South Korea on March 2. Some observers saw the act as resistance, while others viewed it as mourning following US and Israeli strikes on Iran that began on February 28.

Ramezanisadeh said her silence "could have meant any form of torture" for her. "But at that moment, the only thing that gave me peace and a clear conscience was not singing it," she said. "I wanted to sing the anthem with pride and from my heart. But because of the situation in Iran, I really couldn't do it."

Pasandideh added: "My people put their lives on the line and they were killed. Doing that was the absolute least we could do for them."

Australian Immigration Minister Tony Burke said no asylum offer had been made at the time of the protest. "At that point, they had absolutely no information from us about the possibility of being able to stay," he said. "The silence of itself was deeply significant. The reaction was the volcanic moment."

The situation escalated when US President Donald Trump called for the team to be granted asylum and telephoned Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Albanese told Trump that four players and a team manager had accepted humanitarian visa offers.

Seven team members eventually accepted Australia's asylum offer, but all later changed their minds except Ramezanisadeh and Pasandideh. Both now play for the Wynnum Wolves semi-professional club in Brisbane and became Australian citizens in August.

Ramezanisadeh said her parents had urged her to return under instructions from Iranian authorities. "They tried to reassure me, saying: 'Nothing will happen to you. This is your home. You must return home.' But I told them my mind was made up and I was not coming back," she said.

She added: "Thinking that I might never be able to see my family again was heartbreaking, but I couldn't allow myself to be indifferent while so many young people were being killed by this regime. I couldn't stay silent, even though I miss my family so much."

Both women said they had not been in contact with their families in recent months but understood relatives had not been punished. Pasandideh said she had never asked her former teammates whether they wanted to return to Iran or were forced to. "We decided not to talk because I don't want to put their lives in danger," she said.

Pasandideh expressed hope for the future: "One of my biggest dreams is to be able to go back to Iran, but in different circumstances when the situation in Iran has changed and the people of Iran are happy and thriving. Then I will go back and see my family."