MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Two members of the Iranian women's soccer team who claimed asylum in Australia have confirmed their pivotal refusal to sing the national anthem during the Women's Asian Cup in March was a protest against Tehran.
The first media interview with Atefeh Ramezanisadeh, 34, and Fatemeh Pasandideh, 22, since they abandoned their team to become refugees was broadcast Sunday on Australia's "60 Minutes" current affairs program.
"We 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," Ramezanisadeh told Nine Network through an interpreter.
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 on March 2.
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.

#team #ramezanisadeh

Two members of Iran women's football team have become Australian citizens, having previously been granted humanitarian asylum following this year's Asian Cup.
Atefeh Ramezanisadeh, 34, and Fatemeh Pasandideh, 22, were naturalised in Brisbane, Queensland, on Wednesday — five months after refusing to return to Iran.
Seven members of Iran's travelling party for the tournament had initially sought asylum in Australia after their country's elimination from the tournament. Five subsequently changed their minds to return to Iran, but Pasandideh and Ramezanisadeh remained in Australia.
The two received their citizenship certificates at a ceremony attended by Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke.
Ramezanisadeh said her citizenship "represents hope, safety, and the chance to build a new future", while Pasandideh said the moment "feels like a new beginning".

#pasandideh #asylum #return #tournament

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Two members of the Iranian women's soccer team who claimed asylum in Australia in March have been granted citizenship.
Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh said in a statement Thursday that Immigration Minister Tony Burke swore them in the day before at a citizenship ceremony in their Australian home city of Brisbane.
Friends and supporters from the local Iranian community attended the ceremony.
"Yesterday was a truly special and unforgettable day for me. I feel proud and deeply grateful to become an Australian citizen. Australia has given me the opportunity to build my life and my future, and I feel, more than ever, that I belong here," Ramezanisadeh said in the statement.
Ramezanisadeh said her Iranian roots and memories would always be part of her.

#australian #feel #melbourne

June 5 (Reuters) - Iran's World Cup soccer players have been granted visas to enter the United States, a White House official told Reuters on Friday, just 10 days before their first match in Los Angeles amid a conflict between the two countries.
Iran's ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, said late on Thursday the squad had still not received their U.S. visas but these were granted overnight, the White House official said.
A spokesman for Iran's World Cup federation could not be immediately reached for comment.
Tehran negotiated a last-minute move of the team's base from Arizona to Tijuana in Mexico due to the visa issues and a growing feeling in Iran that the squad’s presence in the United States should be kept to a minimum.
They are scheduled to land in Tijuana early Sunday morning.