FIFPRO urges FIFA and AFC to ensure the safety of the Iran women’s national squad.

SYDNEY — The global players’ union FIFPRO has expressed its expectation that FIFA, the AFC, and the Australian government will utilize their influence to guarantee the safety of the players from Iran’s women’s national team, whose prospects have become uncertain due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the conclusion of their Women’s Asian Cup campaign.

After suffering a 2-0 loss to the Philippines on Sunday, the departure of Iran’s team bus from Gold Coast Stadium was delayed by a group of protesters — many supporting the movement to reinstate Reza Pahlavi, the son of the former Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was overthrown during the Islamic Revolution of 1979. The protesters chanted “let them go” and struck the bus before being dispersed by law enforcement.

During the organization’s general assembly in Sydney, FIFPRO Asia/Oceania president Beau Busch stated that the union had been unable to reach the squad but emphasized that it was essential for FIFA, the AFC, and the Australian government to ensure the players have control over their future decisions.

“We have been urging [the Australian government] to facilitate the players having agency,” Busch remarked. “This is a very challenging situation. Some players may wish to return home, while others might seek asylum or prefer to remain in Australia for an extended period. There are also those who are deeply worried about the potential journey back.”

Concerns regarding the players’ safety upon returning to Iran have intensified following their initial Women’s Asian Cup match against South Korea, where they gained international attention by not singing the national anthem of the Islamic Republic, reminiscent of the men’s team’s silent protest during the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup in Qatar.

In subsequent matches, the team sang the anthem and saluted the flag of the Islamic Republic, but this was accompanied by reports that a regime-aligned conservative television presenter, Mohammad Reza Shahbazi, had labeled them “wartime traitors” for their earlier silence and suggested they should face harsher consequences.

While in Australia, the Iranian players have been closely monitored by security and handlers, limiting their communication to officially sanctioned press conferences, where AFC moderators have promptly shut down questions unrelated to the matches. However, reports surfaced on Monday indicating that squad members seeking asylum have faced obstacles in obtaining legal advice from human rights lawyers.

“We are aware that the players are still [in Australia] at this time,” Busch stated. “Our current responsibility is to continue to advocate vigorously with the AFC, FIFA, and the Australian government to ensure that every possible effort is made to guarantee the players’ safety and that they have some control over their next steps.

“Whether they can remain here in Australia or if they choose to return, we must consider how to do that safely. Additionally, we need to ensure their safety upon their return to Iran. This will be quite challenging, but FIFA has a legal obligation regarding human rights to ensure they apply their influence, and we anticipate they will do so.

“At present, we are unable to establish contact with the players, which is extremely concerning. This has been an ongoing issue since the repression escalated [following protests] in February.

“Thus, we are genuinely worried about the players, but our duty now is to do everything within our capabilities to ensure their safety.”

Large areas of airspace over the Middle East have been closed since the United States and Israel initiated attacks on Iran, prompting the Islamic Republic to retaliate with strikes aimed at U.S. and Israeli bases throughout the region, as well as their allies.

Stuck in the United Arab Emirates, Iraq national team coach Graham Arnold has requested that FIFA postpone his team’s World Cup qualifying playoff scheduled for later this month in Mexico, citing the risks faced by the majority of his squad currently in Iraq.

“This is an incredibly challenging situation,” Busch remarked. “Our collaboration with the government has focused on ensuring they do everything possible to provide the players with a degree of agency in this very difficult circumstance.”

Busch noted that the situation facing the players’ union had raised concerns among organizers regarding the potential for asylum claims during the Women’s Asian Cup last month, but to his knowledge, a human rights risk assessment had not been conducted prior to the tournament.

“In hindsight, much of this was predictable,” Busch stated. “We were communicating with the AFC and FIFA as early as February. We aimed to ensure that this issue was on everyone’s radar. We recognized the discussions surrounding the Iranian men’s team not singing the national anthem during the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup. We were aware of the significant challenges within Iran, involving the regime and athletes, all of which were known well before the tournament commenced.

“As we progress, the situation has only grown more complicated, particularly with the bombings by the U.S. and Israel. Therefore, we will continue to collaborate with both parties. There are valuable lessons to be learned from our current position, and improvements are necessary.”