Khaberni - The female players of the Iranian football team, including several who had withdrawn their asylum applications to Australia, returned to their country after crossing the Turkish-Iranian border at the Gurbulak border checkpoint (east), according to a correspondent from the "AFP" agency.
Among the returning delegation were four players, including the team captain Zahra Ghanbari, and a member of the technical staff, who had withdrawn their asylum applications in Australia and decided to return to Iran.
The delegation arrived in Istanbul on Tuesday evening from Oman, before flying to the eastern city of Igdir, and then continued their journey to Iran by land.
The players, wearing the Iranian national team uniform, had earlier boarded a bus headed to the Gurbulak-Bazargan border crossing after landing at Igdir airport in eastern Turkey.
The Iranian city of Bazargan is located in the northwest of the country, about 900 kilometers from the capital, Tehran.
The players had arrived last Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from Australia, where they participated in the Asian Cup, before heading to Oman on Monday, and then took off to Istanbul on Tuesday.
The Mehr Agency of Iran published photos of a small group welcoming the team with flags on the Iranian side of the border, in addition to photos of the players and technical staff seated on a platform covered with red carpet.
The president of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, said, "We have gathered here to say well done to them and to express our appreciation," adding, "although they are women, they have shown masculine bravery and strength."
According to Iranian media, a larger reception celebrating the symbolic value of the team will be held on Thursday at Valiasr Square, which has seen other pro-government gatherings in recent weeks.
