Iranian women’s football team lands in Malaysia as video fuels fresh asylum claims

The Iranian women’s national football team arrived in Malaysia on Wednesday after leaving Australia, where several members of the delegation had sought asylum, as a viral social media video fuelled unverified claims that some players might want to remain in the Southeast Asian country.The Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the Kuala Lumpur-based governing body for Asian football, confirmed the team was currently staying at a hotel in the Malaysian capital while onward travel arrangements were being finalised.“The AFC will provide all necessary support to the team during their stay until their onward travel arrangements are confirmed,” a confederation spokesman said.“The AFC once again emphasises that it will continue to prioritise the welfare and safety of the players and officials and calls on the media to respect the privacy of the team members.”Members of Iran’s women’s football team arrive at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Wednesday, after taking part in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia. Photo: AFPThe arrival in Malaysia followed a turbulent period in Australia, where several members of the 13-player Iranian delegation sought humanitarian protection after saying they feared persecution if they returned home.