Iran women’s soccer team greeted with a welcome ceremony in Tehran

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Members of Iran’s national women’s soccer team were greeted with a welcome ceremony upon their return to the Islamic Republic after several of the players sought asylum in Australia.

“First of all we are so happy to be in Iran, because Iran is our homeland,” midfielder Fatemeh Shaban said.

People in the crowd waved flags while some of the players held bouquets of flowers and signed what appeared to be mini-soccer balls. Iranian media had reported that the team returned on Wednesday.

“I wasn’t expecting this many people to come to welcome us, and I am happy to be the daughter of Iran,” Shaban said in translated comments.

                AP AUDIO: Iran women’s soccer team greeted with a ‘welcome ceremony’ in Tehran

AP correspondent Haya Panjwani reports on reactions after Iran says all but two of the Iranian women’s soccer team have returned to Iran.

Two Iranian female players, Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh, chose to remain in Australia and have been training with the Brisbane Roar club.

Others who initially sought asylum after the team was knocked out of the Women’s Asian Cup later changed their minds and said they would return to Iran.

Iran’s squad arrived in Australia for the tournament shortly before the Iran war began on Feb. 28. The team initially gained global attention after some players stayed silent during Iran’s national anthem before their first game in the Asian Cup. The silence was cast as an act of resistance or protest by some commentators and a show of mourning by others.

                        Related Stories
                    
                

        
    
    
    
    







    
        

                
                    



    
        


  




    




    




    




    




    




    




    




    



    




    
    
    
    

    

    





    
        

            
            
            Keylor Navas stays with Pumas UNAM for one more year at 39
        

    

  

    

    
    







    
    
        
        
    
    
    
    
        

            1 MIN READ
        

    
    
    
    







    

    

    

    

    




                
            

    
        

                
                    



    
        


  




    




    




    




    




    




    




    




    



    




    
    
    
    

    

    





    
        

            
            
            Lens back on top of Ligue 1 thanks to star turn from Florian Thauvin
        

    

  

    

    
    







    
    
        
        
    
    
    
    
        

            1 MIN READ
        

    
    
    
    







    

    

    

    

    




                
            

    
        

                
                    



    
        


  




    




    




    




    




    




    




    




    



    




    
    
    
    

    

    





    
        

            
            
            Fernandes stars again for Man United but Bournemouth worth a point in 2-2 scrap
        

    

  

    

    
    







    
    
        
        
    
    
    
    
        

            1 MIN READ

The players didn’t publicly disclose their views or explain their actions and sang the anthem before their next two matches.

Iranian first Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref last week dismissed suggestions the women would be unsafe if they returned home, saying the country “welcomes its children with open arms and the government guarantees their security.”

AP soccer: