Bangkok, Mar 12 (EFE).– The Iranian women’s national soccer team were at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday while preparations for their trip were being finalized, the Asian Football Confederation confirmed to EFE.
The Confederation did not provide further details about their departure or confirm whether they would return to Iran.
The organization added that it would provide all necessary support to the team during their stay until their travel arrangements were confirmed.
Malaysian news agency Bernama reported on Wednesday that the team would travel back to Iran from Malaysia, citing an official from the Iranian embassy in Malaysia.
EFE has tried unsuccessfully to contact the Iranian embassy in the predominantly Muslim Southeast Asian country.
Around 20 players left Sydney on a flight to Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday night, after five others sought asylum in Australia for fear of reprisals in their home country.
Subsequently, two more members of the team requested asylum in Australia, although one later changed her mind.
The whereabouts of the six players who have sought asylum are unknown for their protection.
The athletes, who arrived in Australia before the start of the war in Iran, were the subject of controversy for not singing the national anthem during their opening match of the tournament against South Korea, although they did sing it in their second and third matches, and were labeled “traitors” on Iranian state television. EFE
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