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Shiva Amini, a former Iranian professional soccer player who was banned from the team and then forced to leave the country after being photographed playing without a hijab around her head, suggested Wednesday that players returning to the country face an uncertain future.
Six players from the Iranian women’s national football team have been granted asylum in Australia after the team was excluded from the Women’s Asian Cup. The Australian government intervened and worked with some stakeholders to obtain a humanitarian visa.
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Members of the Iranian women’s national football team arrive at Terminal 1 of Kuala Lumpur International Airport after watching Australia’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup Group A match in Sepang, Malaysia, March 11, 2026. (Reuters/Hasnoor Hussain)
Amini appeared on PK Press Club Channel’s “The Story” and said she understands what players are going through.
“I can completely understand what these Iranian footballers are going through because I have been in their shoes,” she said. “The Iranian regime put you in this situation. You have to say goodbye to everything you have in Iran… Anything can happen to you when you go to Iran. You can risk prison, you can risk rape, you can risk execution. … The regime doesn’t care who you are.”
Amini was granted asylum in Switzerland following threats from the Islamic regime in Iran.
She broke down in tears as she recalled being unable to see her father for almost 10 years and missing his funeral when he died.
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Iranian fans display signs during the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Group A match between Iran and the Philippines at the Gold Coast Stadium in the Gold Coast, Australia, March 8, 2026. (AAP/via REUTERS)
“I was in Switzerland and the regime put me in a situation,” she said. “I’m just playing football with my friends without my hijab and the regime saw my social media and used it against me because they wanted to make me an example for other athletes in Iran.
“They took everything from me. I lost my family, I lost my home, I lost my security. I remember after six, seven years, when I was in Italy, I just wanted to invite my parents, my family, my mom and my dad because my dad was agitated. He was like, ‘Hey, I want to see you. “I tried to get a visa for them. It’s so sad because I tried so hard with a lawyer but the regime didn’t give a visa to my father, but (only) to my mother.
“My mother came to see me after seven years and when she was there I was so happy. After seven years I could hug my mother, I feel her. When my mother was in Italy, my brother called me and said, ‘Dad passed away.’ And that day was the worst day of my life because I felt guilty. My mother is there. I couldn’t get a visa for my father. … I wanted to go to Iran, but my mother wouldn’t let me didn’t allow it and she said, ‘No, you can’t even see your father because they’re going to arrest you.'”
Most members of the Iranian women’s football team have left Australia, turning down last-minute offers of asylum.
Iranian players during their national anthem before the Women’s Asian Cup soccer match between Iran and the Philippines in Robina, Australia, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Dave Hunt/AAPImage via AP)
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The team flew to Malaysia after being at Sydney Airport.
