Khaberni - Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia witnessed a new chapter in the crisis of the Iranian women's team, where the team players sought help from the Malaysian police immediately upon their arrival "transit" on the return journey from Australia to Tehran.
A plea under the weight of fear
The Qatari network "Al Jazeera" reported the latest developments, indicating that 16 players from the Iranian team communicated with the security authorities at Kuala Lumpur Airport, expressing their intense fear of returning to their country.
This plea comes amid accusations by the official Iranian media against the players, describing them as "traitors in time of war," which truly terrified the team from facing severe consequences upon their arrival in Iranian territory.
The background of the protest in Australia
The roots of this crisis go back to the team's participation in the Asian Women's Cup 2026 in Australia, where reports by the "Times" newspaper mentioned that the players conducted a silent protest by refusing to chant the Iranian national anthem before their matches, in solidarity with the popular protests in their country.
The events quickly escalated after the Australian government granted humanitarian visas to 7 members of the delegation (6 players and one of the administrative staff) and secured them in secret locations.
The moments of departure from Sydney were poignant, as crowds from the Iranian community gathered at the airport in an attempt to prevent the team's bus from heading to the flight, chanting warning cries to the players: "Do not go back.. your lives are in danger."
