Australia Says Iranian Women’s Soccer Player Reverses Asylum Decision

One of two Iranian women’s soccer players granted asylum in Australia on Tuesday night has withdrawn her claim and decided to return to Iran, Australia Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said. According to Bloomberg, Burke told Parliament on Wednesday that Australia had granted protection to a sixth player and a support staff member from the Iranian delegation, taking the total to seven, after they sought asylum shortly before a scheduled departure. Hours later, one of the two women who initially chose to stay changed her mind after speaking with teammates who had already left, contacted the Iranian embassy to be collected, and authorities quickly relocated the remaining six for safety, Burke said.