Iranian Women Footballers Defect and Seek Refuge

Five players from Iran’s national women’s football team have reportedly fled their training camp and sought refuge in Australia.

According to the office of Reza Pahlavi, the athletes identified as Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Ghanbari, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramazanzadeh and Mona Hamoudi are now in a safe location.

The group is said to have defected from the team while abroad and requested protection.

In a statement, the players announced their support for Iran’s Lion and Sun Revolution, a movement calling for the end of the Islamic Republic and the restoration of national sovereignty.