The Iranian soccer players who sought refuge in Australia after refusing to sing their country’s national anthem have shared what their lives look like Down Under.
Atefeh Ramezanisadeh and Fatemeh Pasandideh, who go by Ati and Pasand, were recently granted Australian citizenship in a private ceremony with Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke.
The pair were part of the Iranian ‘Lionesses’ soccer team who took a stand against their native home’s government by refusing to sing the national anthem during a match against South Korea at Gold Coast Stadium on March 2.
The team’s silent demonstration followed Iranian authorities having carried out a bloody retribution after tens of thousands of people protested the authoritarian regime. It also coincided with conflict breaking out between Iran, the US and Israel.
Initially, seven of the players sought asylum in Australia after a public broadcaster in Iran labelled them ‘wartime traitors’.
But continued pressure from Iran saw all of the players except Ati and Pasand return to the Middle East.
The women on Sunday told 60 Minutes they haven’t contacted the team, or family members in Iran, for fear of reprisals against those they care about within the country.
‘For security reasons over these past six months, we decided not to talk because I don’t want to put their lives in danger,’ Pasand said.
Atefeh Ramezanisadeh (left) and Fatemeh Pasandideh (right), who go by Ati and Pasand, sought asylum in Australia in March
The women were on the Iranian soccer team that refused to sing the national anthem during a match in the Gold Coast on March 2 (pictured is Pasand on March 8)
Pasand has also lost contact with her father and brothers, who remain in Iran.
‘Since I made this decision, I have never been in contact with them but I’ve heard that they are okay,’ she said.
‘I try to get updates through people around them, but I hope change happens in Iran so I can see them again.’
When pressed on whether she believed turmoil would end in Iran, Pasand said: ‘The only thing I believe is that brutality will never last forever.’
Just six months on from one of the hardest decisions they will likely make, the women are working to create new lives in Australia.
Pasand said she watches popular children’s cartoon Bluey to learn Australian slang, while Ati recently earned her Australian driver’s licence.
Both women play for Brisbane-based soccer club Wynnum Wolves, but hope to return to professional teams.
It was through the team that they met their ‘second father’, club president Rabieh Krayem.
The women revealed they’ve found a ‘second father’ in the president of their new soccer club, Rabieh Krayem (above)
Ati and Pasand were recently granted Australian citizenship in a private ceremony with Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke (above)
Mr Krayem emigrated to Australia from the Middle East five decades ago and has held senior positions at a number of sports clubs, including being the inaugural CEO of the North Queensland Cowboys NRL team.
He had to pause his interview and wipe his tears when the 60 Minutes team told him that Ati referred to him as a father figure.
‘I’m crying now. You know, I can understand missing her father and to be compared to someone’s father – that’s a lot to take on,’ he said.
‘If I can make her life a little bit easier, make both their lives easier, that’s all I need.’
Burke on Sunday shared how difficult it was to reach out to the Iranian team following their protest.
Despite being on Australian soil, the women were kept under close guard by Iranian minders at all hours.
It was only six days after the women refused to sing the anthem that Australian authorities were able to contact them on March 8, immediately after their final match against the Philippines.
‘There were the tiniest interactions with some of our officials where we just said, ‘If you want to seek protection from Australia, we’re open to have that conversation with you’, and the seed was planted,’ Burke said.
Ati (above) said getting Australian citizenship ‘meant everything’
Pasand (right) said she hopes ‘to be a useful person for Australia’
Immigration officials were able to further help the women through a secret midnight meeting in the foyer of their Gold Coast hotel.
‘We were under so much stress. We didn’t know if we were doing the right thing. We were terrified and anxious – it was a mix of feelings,’ Ati said.
‘And the night we made the decision, none of us slept until 5am.’
Now they have citizenship, the women finally feel ‘safe’.
‘It meant everything. Getting citizenship allowed us to breathe and focus on our future,’ Ati said.
‘It gave us a feeling of safety. It was a really wonderful thing to happen.’
Pasand added: ‘I am so deeply grateful to be here. It feels like my home here. Iran remains in my heart but I truly love Australia.
‘I want to be a useful person for Australia and be the best version of myself.’
