"When my country returns, I'll be shot." → "Killing my family in case of asylum." Shock threat. But why "Suddenly returning home"... The soccer community turned upside down

*This content was translated by AI.

Zahra Ganbari, the captain of the Iranian women's national soccer team, who moved and shocked the world by choosing asylum in Australia, suddenly withdrew his asylum and returned to Iran, causing a big stir. It is a shocking decision made in a dangerous situation where the possibility of punishment is raised upon returning home.

British media 'The Guardian' reported on the 16th (Korea time) that "Zahara Ganbari, the captain of the Iranian women's soccer team who accepted asylum in Australia, withdrew his asylum application and left Australia."

Taking local reports together, Australian Interior Minister Tony Burke's office officially confirmed that Ganbari left Australia late at night last Sunday.

Ganbari was one of seven players and staff members who were granted humanitarian visas by the Australian government during the women's Asian Cup. Earlier, Iran's women's national team players were branded war traitors by conservatives in their home countries for remaining silent by refusing to sing the national anthem in the opening match against South Korea last week, and were in the worst crisis of being mentioned as firing squad upon returning home.

At the time, five players, including Ganbari, escaped their accommodation and dramatically applied for asylum with the Australian government after receiving a short message from their home country's family saying, "You must stay." Even U.S. President Donald Trump was an international concern, pressuring the Australian government to accept it, saying, "It is a terrible mistake to send them to the extremities."

But Ganbari suddenly changed his mind. Iran's state news agency IRNA is using it as a tool for regime propaganda, saying, "Ganbari has joined his colleagues in Malaysia." Iran's state-run 'Tasim News' celebrated, "The players rejected the temptation of asylum and made a patriotic decision with deep loyalty to Iran," adding, "This is a devastating blow to the US president who led the situation."

However, it is analyzed that behind Ganbari's sudden decision to return home was strong pressure from Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Shiva Amini, a former Iranian national team member and human rights activist, said, "The Revolutionary Guard has put pressure on the families of players who have decided to remain in Australia. In particular, I believe captain Ganbari's family has been the target of intensive intimidation." Amini also raised suspicions that "a person disguised as a team official tried to persuade the players to return home to Iran."

In fact, when the Iranian team left the accommodation, the scene was chaotic. Taking Australian media together, a shocking scene was seen in which a player was forced into a bus by a teammate, and the media in Iran has been creating a vicious atmosphere for players who refused to sing the national anthem.

"Iranian female athletes knew every opportunity to be safe and welcome here," Australian Government Minister Catherine King told ABC radio. "This decision would have been incredibly difficult and would have faced tremendous pressure."

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*This content was translated by AI.