Fatemeh Pasandideh, left, and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh, right, former members of the Iranian women’s soccer team, stand with Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke, after receiving their citizenship in Brisbane, Australia, on Aug. 5, 2026. (Department of Home Affairs via AP, File)<\/small><\/p>\n
2026-09-07T06:23:16Z<\/p>\n
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) \u2014 Two members of the Iranian women\u2019s soccer team who claimed asylum in Australia have confirmed their pivotal refusal to sing the national anthem during the Women\u2019s Asian Cup in March was a protest against Tehran.<\/p>\n
The first media interview with Atefeh Ramezanisadeh, 34, and Fatemeh Pasandideh, 22<\/a><\/span>, since they abandoned their team to become refugees<\/a><\/span> was broadcast Sunday on Australia\u2019s \u201c60 Minutes\u201d current affairs program.<\/p>\n \u201cWe just wanted to stand with our people. 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,\u201d Ramezanisadeh told Nine Network through an interpreter.<\/p>\n The team was criticized in Iran and branded as traitors in the media there for remaining silent when the Iranian national anthem was played ahead of their opening loss against South Korea<\/a><\/span> on March 2.<\/p>\n Some saw it as an act of resistance, while others interpreted it as a show of mourning following the U.S. and Israeli attacks on their homeland which began on Feb. 28. The team offered no public explanation.<\/p>\n The gesture led to demonstrators demanding the team be offered asylum in Australia before leaving Sydney on March 10.<\/p>\n Ramezanisadeh and Pasandideh said they were protesting Tehran\u2019s brutal crackdown<\/a><\/span> on nationwide demonstrations against Iran\u2019s theocratic rule.<\/p>\n Ramezanisadeh said her silence \u201ccould have meant any form of torture\u201d for her. <\/p>\n \u201cBut at that moment, the only thing that gave me peace and a clear conscience was not singing it. I wanted to sing the anthem with pride and from my heart. But because of the situation in Iran, I really couldn\u2019t do it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n