Two more Iranian football squad members granted humanitarian visas in Australia, minister confirms

A total of seven members of the Iranian women’s football team have now been granted humanitarian visas in Australia, home affairs minister Tony Burke has confirmed.An additional two women had sought asylum before the rest of the Iranian team departed Sydney on a flight to Malaysia on Tuesday night, one player and one support member, Burke told a press conference on Wednesday mornig. He said the pair were offered humanitarian visas, and both took up the offer. The visas were processed overnight.He said the two women were separated from their minders and the rest of the group and met with federal police in a location attached to Brisbane airport, before he met with them.“I made them the same offer that I had made the five players the night before, and that was that if they wanted to receive a humanitarian visa for Australia, which would have a pathway to a permanent visa.“I had the paperwork ready to execute that immediately. They both said that they did. I signed off on that.”The pair join five teammates whose humanitarian visas were confirmed by the Albanese government on Tuesday morning.The rest of the travelling squad arrived in Malaysia early Wednesday morning after flying out from Sydney, Agence France-Presse photos at Kuala Lumpur International Airport showed.On Tuesday, Burke and prime minister Anthony Albanese had encouraged further team members to seek asylum in Australia if they wished. Burke said “the same opportunity is there” for other players, while Albanese said “we’re willing to provide assistance to other women in the team”.Sources had told Guardian Australia on Wednesday morning that one player and one staff member had not travelled out of Australia when the remainder of the sqaud departed.The team had arrived in Sydney just after 8pm local time on Tuesday, after leaving the Gold Coast where they had played their final game of the tournament on Sunday – a 2-0 loss to the Philippines.After the granting of asylum to the first five players, supporters had gathered at the airport, in the hope that more players or staff would try to remain in Australia. The speculation had built after the team became embroiled in controversy for refusing to sing the national anthem at their opening game 10 days ago, prompting threats of reprisals for “traitors” amid the US-Israeli attacks on the country.The team exited the plane from the back and were escorted on to a bus surrounded by airport staff and Australian federal police.They later left Australia on a flight from Sydney airport.More details soon …