Iran have released a statement after the welfare of their women’s football team was thrown into doubt upon their arrival home from the Asian Cup. The competition, held in Australia, sparked huge backlash in the Middle Eastern country as the players refused to sing the national anthem.
The protest came just 24 hours after the United States of America and Israel assassinated Iran’s leader, Ali Khamenei. Iran is still currently embroiled in a war with both countries, which looks like it will lead to the men’s team pulling out of the 2026 World Cup.
After the women’s team was knocked out of the Asian Cup earlier this week, fears about potential punishment when they return home were sparked. Jail time or even the death penalty have been mentioned among potential sanctions. Mohammad Reza Shahbazi, a presenter, even warned on live TV:
“In times of war, traitors must be dealt with more harshly. Anyone who takes even a single step against the country during wartime must face stronger consequences.”
After worrying scenes saw at least one player on the team bus give an SOS signal, more than 46,000 people signed a petition for Australia to keep the women in the country rather than allowing them to go home. Even US President Donald Trump offered asylum in his country if Australia wouldn’t.
While the majority of the players have opted to return home, with their journey already underway, six others sought refuge in Australia and were taken to a secure location and granted visas to remain in the country. A support staff member was also given a visa.
However, it was revealed that one of the women changed their mind and boarded the flight to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Home Minister Tony Burke said: “One of the two who had made the decision to stay last night had spoken to some of the teammates who had left, and had changed her mind.
“In Australia, people are able to change their mind, people are able to travel. And so, we respect the context in which she has made that decision.”
The player in question accidentally revealed the players’ locations, and they had to be relocated due to security concerns. Now, Iranian first Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref has claimed the football players will be protected once they return to Iran. He told The Times of Israel:
“Iran welcomes its children with open arms and the government guarantees their security.
“No one has the right to interfere in the family affairs of the Iranian nation and play the role of a nanny who is kinder than a mother.”
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Ismail Baghaei had previously accused Australian officials of taking the female athletes ‘hostage’ and preventing them from returning home to safety. He even compared the situation to the air strike on a girls’ school that killed 168 people in Iran during the opening days of the war.
Baghaei posted to X (formerly Twitter), slamming the ‘hypocrisy and audacity’ for Australia and the US to try and step in, while echoing the sentiment that the players will be safe. He stated (per Mail Sport):
“To the dear ladies of our homeland on the women’s football team, I say: Iran awaits you with open arms. Do not worry. Return home
“They killed 170 of our innocent elementary school girls in a two-stage attack with Tomahawk missiles in the city of Minab, and now they are trying to take our female athletes hostage under the guise of ‘rescuing’. What hypocrisy and audacity!!”
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Former FIFA referee Mark Halsey has made an interesting comparison between Lionel Messi‘s foul against Algeria and Folarin Balogun’s red-card offence in the United States win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Balogun opened the scoring in the USA’s 2-0 win over Bosnia in the Round of 32 at the World Cup on Wednesday night. The former Arsenal striker then received his marching orders for a foul on Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic.
The pair battled for the ball, and Balogun’s studs made contact with Muharemovic’s calf. Brazilian referee Raphael Claus initially missed the incident before VAR intervened and sent him to the pitchside monitor, and he subsequently brandished a red card.
There has been widespread debate over Balogun’s sending off and USA boss Mauricio Pochettino hit out at the decision after the game. He said, It’s ‘never a red card’ because there was ‘never any intention to step on the player.”
Pochettino also weighed in on the comparisons between Balogun’s sending off and Messi’s foul in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria, which didn’t lead to a red card: “For me, neither are red cards.”
Messi didn’t even receive a yellow card for a foul on Algerian defender Aissa Mandi in Argentina’s group stage win. The 2022 World Cup winner scored a hat-trick in that game, but some argue he deserved the same punishment as Balogun, given the similarities between the two incidents.
Halsey defended the decision to send Balogun off because the replays show his studs make contact, even if accidentally. He did, however, opine that Messi’s challenge on Mandi was “far worse” while speaking to The Sun Football on X:
“If we go back to Argentina vs Algeria, a challenge by Messi. That challenge by Messi on Mandi, he had no chance of playing the ball; it’s a poor challenge. He rakes his studs down the back of the Algerian player’s calf.”
He added: “For me, that was far worse than the one we saw with Balogun, which VAR should have recommended a review because it was a clear and obvious error by the match official.”
Balogun will now miss the USA’s Round of 16 clash with Belgium on Tuesday (July 7th) through suspension. He may even have his ban extended if FIFA’s disciplinary panel believe the challenge on Muharemovic warrants more than the one-match ban.
Fans were quick to recall Messi’s challenge in the aftermath of Balogun’s red card, and some feel the Argentina captain had been handed preferential treatment. A side-by-side replay of both incidents shows significant similarities, raising questions about FIFA officiating and inconsistencies.
Some viewers agree with Halsey and feel Messi’s challenge looked even worse than that of the American frontman, who had been enjoying a superb campaign. One fan wrote on X: “Messi went unpunished for his. He didn’t even get a yellow card. Balogun did even less than Messi and still got a red card.”
British broadcaster Piers Morgan made his feelings known on social media, posting images of the two fouls. He captioned it: “Same tackle. One (Balogun) gets a red card. The other gets no punishment at all. Must be nice being Lionel Messi.”
Some fans have gone as far as to suggest “corruption” and “favouritism” shown towards Messi. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner will be in action for the reigning world champions when they face Cape Verde in the Round of 32 on Friday night.
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