More Iran women's soccer players decide to leave Australia

"Overnight, three members of the Iranian Women's Football Team made the decision to join the rest of the team on their journey back to Iran. After telling Australian officials they had made this decision, the players were given repeated chances to talk about their options."

"Initially, six players and a support staff member from a squad list of 26 players accepted humanitarian visas to stay in Australia before the rest of the Iranian contingent flew from Sydney to Malaysia on March 9. Another later changed her mind and left Australia."

"Concerns about the team's safety in Iran heightened when the players didn't sing the Iranian national anthem before their first match. The Australian government was urged to help the woman by Iranian groups in Australia and by U.S. President Donald Trump."

Three members of Iran's women's soccer team who had accepted humanitarian visas to remain in Australia have decided to return to their homeland. This departure reduces the number of players staying in Australia to three from an initial seven who sought refuge. The Iranian team arrived in Australia for the Women's Asian Cup before the Middle East conflict began on February 28. After the rest of the team departed for Malaysia on March 9, these three players initially chose to stay but subsequently changed their decision. Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed the players were given multiple opportunities to reconsider their options before departing.

Read at ESPN.com