‘Treated like princesses’: Iranian soccer player says they will be rewarded on return

A member of the Iranian soccer team has told protesters in Malaysia they aren’t scared about going home and that officials have promised them rewards when they return.

Speaking outside the Hyatt Place hotel in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday evening, one soccer player, whose face is not shown in the video, tells anti-regime Iranian-Malaysians that she wasn’t worried about her safety.

In the video, translated by members of the diaspora, the player said they were promised “rewards” or “benefits” by officials and told that they would be welcomed and “treated well” upon their return, like “princesses” or queens.

When protesters told her it was a “lie,” warning the Islamic Republic would break its promises, the player was undeterred.

The player said international attention following several teammates’ decision to seek asylum in Australia would protect the group from harm.

The player also said they explained to officials they were manipulated into not singing the national anthem before their Women’s Asian Cup match against South Korea. She said claims that the families of players who sought asylum were at risk were untrue.

She also said each was individually offered the opportunity to stay in Australia at Sydney Airport, and that, had they wanted to, they would have.

Only one team member was spoken with by protesters outside the hotel. In two instances, players appeared to be reluctantly led to the bus on the Gold Coast, and the plane in Sydney, by teammates. Protesters have raised concerns the women cannot speak freely, with their phones searched by their handlers.

A previous video, also taken on Wednesday evening in the hotel’s lobby, showed members of the diaspora in a heated altercation with the group’s chaperones before being removed from the hotel by security.

Protesters had searched a number of hotels to locate the women, promising to create a “humanitarian corridor” to help get them into a car and whisk them away from their handlers.

One protester, Ehsan Habibi Nasab, told this masthead he respected the women’s choices.

“In my opinion, whether they are in Australia or Malaysia, there is no real reason to take the risk of returning,” he said.

“In the end, it is their decision, and we cannot interfere any further.”

Five team members sought asylum during secret back-door meetings in Brisbane on Monday, with another two players joining them on Tuesday.

One changed her mind on Wednesday after speaking with the rest of the team. She called the Iranian embassy to be collected and is expected to join the group in Malaysia. Her decision to return has prompted fears among the diaspora that it will be milked for propaganda.

An eighth considered absconding from the group at Sydney Airport; however, they ultimately decided to return to Iran.

There are fears that the group will face persecution upon their return after being labelled “wartime traitors” by local media for refusing to sing the Iranian national anthem ahead of a match. Members of the group gave the “SOS” hand signal to protesters in the Gold Coast through their bus window.

The team have been in Malaysia since Wednesday morning, with this masthead travelling with them on their flight. They initially planned to fly to Turkey, then onward into Iran; however, airspace closures and flight cancellations may disrupt travel plans.