The image is now burned in people's memories - the Iranian female soccer player being dragged onto a bus to be sent back to the brutalist regime of her native Iran. Afsaneh's apparent unwillingness to leave this week prompted speculation from regime change supporters that she would stay and join the five who had already sought asylum. Afsaneh had previously posted a cryptic Instagram message alongside a team photo last year, saying: 'Don't live your life in fear, live your life in courage.' When the remainder of the team prepared to leave Australia on Tuesday, it was speculated more would join the defectors. 'As a result of that, it meant that the Iranian embassy now knew the location of where everybody was.

Source: Metro March 11, 2026 23:49 UTC