Five members of the Iranian women's football team who were seeking asylum in Australia have reportedly reversed their decision and will now return to Iran.

Activists played a key role in making contact with the women as they tried to dodge their minders.

Seven members of Iran’s women’s soccer team were granted humanitarian visas in Australia after seeking asylum, while the rest of the squad returned home following protests and concerns over safety amid the Iran war.

Australia on Tuesday granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women soccer players after they sought asylum, ​fearing persecution on their return home for their refusal to sing the national anthem at an Asia Cup match. "Australians have been moved by the plight of these brave women," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told a news conference in Canberra  a day after police helped extract the women from their Iranian government handlers.

Five members of the Iranian women's soccer team are being protected by police after staging a dramatic escape from their handlers at a Brisbane...

Australia approves asylum for five members of Iran’s women’s national football team, citing fears of persecution over protests and women’s rights. A sign of support for female athletes fleeing Iran.

Australia has granted asylum to five players in Iran's women's football team over fears they faced persecution if they returned home, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has said.

The players slipped away from the team hotel under the cover of darkness to claim sanctuary after they were branded "traitors" at home for refusing to sing the national anthem.

The players slipped away from the team hotel under the cover of darkness to claim sanctuary after they were branded "traitors" at home for refusing to sing the national anthem.

Five members of the Iranian women's national football team have left their squad’s training camp on the Gold Coast and are seeking refuge in Australia