Iranian footballers reveal anthem silence was protest against Tehran's violent crackdown

Two Iranian women footballers who sought asylum in Australia have spoken publicly for the first time about their decision to stay silent during Iran’s national anthem at the Women’s Asian Cup in March, confirming it was a direct protest against Tehran’s violent crackdown on dissent.

Atefeh Ramezanisadeh, 34, and Fatemeh Pasandideh, 22, gave their account on Australia’s 60 Minutes programme on Sunday, explaining that their silence ahead of Iran’s opening match defeat to South Korea on 2 March was an act of solidarity with protesters facing state repression back home.

“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 said through an interpreter.

The squad had faced fierce backlash in Iran, where domestic media labelled the players traitors. At the time, the gesture was interpreted variously as mourning following US and Israeli strikes on Iran that began on 28 February, or as political resistance — but the team offered no public explanation while still in Sydney.

Ramezanisadeh acknowledged the personal cost of her decision. “It could have meant any form of torture for me. But at that moment, the only thing that gave me peace and a clear conscience was not singing it. I wanted to sing the anthem with pride and from my heart. But because of the situation in Iran, I really couldn’t do it.”

Pasandideh was equally direct. “My people put their lives on the line and they were killed. Doing that was the absolute least we could do for them.”

Australian Immigration Minister Tony Burke confirmed that no asylum offer had been made to the squad before or during the match. “At that point, they had absolutely no information from us about the possibility of being able to stay,” he said, describing the silence itself as “deeply significant” and the public reaction as “the volcanic moment.”

The situation drew international attention when US President Donald Trump called on Australia to grant the squad protection and later telephoned Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the matter. Albanese confirmed that four players and a manager had accepted humanitarian visas. Seven team members initially accepted Australia’s asylum offer, but all eventually withdrew their applications except Ramezanisadeh and Pasandideh.

Both women now play for the Wynnum Wolves semi-professional club in Brisbane and were granted Australian citizenship in August.