Concerns grew about the team’s safety after footage emerged of a host on state TV calling them “traitors” who ought to be punished for their silence during the anthem on 2 March, days after the US and Israel began their war against Iran.
The players went on to sing the anthem at their next two matches before being eliminated – leading critics to believe they had been told to sing by government officials accompanying them during the tournament.
Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke later confirmed five players who “wanted to be able to stay in Australia” had been escorted to a safe location by police, from the Gold Coast hotel where they had been staying.
Burke said he met the women at the safe location and signed off for their applications for humanitarian visas at about 01:30 local time – which would have given them leave to live, work and study in the country.
The BBC witnessed some of their minders running across the hotel to try to find them – but they had already gone.
Two more women later joined the group.
