Mosaic News

News without borders
Buy Me A Coffee
Monday, 13 April 2026
Iran·Football·Human Rights·Protests

Iran unfreezes assets of women's football captain after she abandons asylum bid and returns home

Monday, 13 April 2026 · 1 min read
Based on: Al Jazeera English

Iran's judiciary has ordered the release of seized assets belonging to Zahra Ghanbari, captain of the Iranian women's national football team, after she reversed an asylum claim and returned to Iran. Ghanbari was one of six players who sought asylum in Australia in March following the Women's Asian Cup, during which the team drew international attention by initially refusing to sing the Iranian national anthem — a gesture widely interpreted as an act of defiance against the government. Five of the players, including Ghanbari, ultimately returned home to a state ceremony in Tehran, though two teammates remain in Australia; the release of Ghanbari's assets was described by Iran's Mizan news agency as a response to her "declaration of innocence following her change in behaviour."

Sources
Al Jazeera EnglishIran releases assets of women’s football captain in Australia asylum row
This article was automatically compiled by AI from the sources above. It may contain inaccuracies. Always read the original sources for the full context.