Iran footballers train with Brisbane Roar after attaining asylum in Australia

[p]Seven members of Iran's football delegation competing in the Women's Asian Cup sought sanctuary in Australia last week after they were branded "[b]traitors[/b]" at home for refusing to sing the national anthem at their opening game.[/p][p]Only two, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pasandideh-fatemeh/bXPK4xXh/"]Fatemeh Pasandideh[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ramezanizadeh-atefeh/jR2glHnC/"]Atefeh Ramezanisadeh[/a], remain in Australia after the others changed their minds and decided to return.[/p][p]Rights groups have accused Tehran of pressuring athletes abroad by threatening relatives or with the seizure of property if they defect or make statements against the Islamic republic.[/p][p]Iranian authorities have in turn accused Australia of pressuring the players to stay.[/p][p]"[b]Welcome, Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh,[/b]" said Kaz Patafta, chief executive of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brisbane-roar/04rryUiO/"]Brisbane Roar[/a], in releasing photos of the two training and smiling with the A-League team on Monday.[/p][p]"[b]Today, Brisbane Roar officially welcomed both players to the club's training facilities to take part in training with our A-League women's squad,[/b]" he said.[/p][p]"[b]We remain committed to providing a supportive environment for them whilst they navigate the next stages.[/b]"[/p][embed guid="4585e45d-296c-4a53-9f8a-938b860b251f" url="https://www.instagram.com/p/DV8jme7ESAI/" social-type="instagram" /][p]Pasandideh posted a picture of herself on Instagram alongside FIFA's chief football officer Jill Ellis -- a former coach of the American national team -- with the caption: "[b]Everything will be fine.[/b]"[/p][p]The two players are being housed at an undisclosed location and receiving support from the government and the Iranian diaspora community in Australia.[/p][p]The drama unfolded against a backdrop of war in the Middle East unleashed by US-Israeli air strikes on Iran.[/p][p]After the news last week that players had been granted asylum, Brisbane Roar released a statement saying they wanted to welcome the Iranian footballers.[/p][p]"[b]Brisbane is home to one of the country's most passionate football communities, and the Roar family has a big heart,[/b]" it said.[/p][p]"[b]We'd be honoured to open our doors and offer you a place to train, play, and belong and will begin to explore how to make this happen.[/b]"[/p]