ISTANBUL: The Iranian women&#39;s national football team landed at Istanbul Airport on Tuesday after several members of the delegation withdrew their asylum bids in Australia and decided to return home. Footage from Turkish news agency DHA showed the players, wearing Iranian national team tracksuits, walking through the arrivals area at Istanbul Airport. The players arrived in Turkey via Oman and Kuala Lumpur, having left Australia, where they were competing in the Asian Cup. &quot;I am missing my family,&quot; one of them told AFP on Monday at Kuala Lumpur Airport. According to DHA, the players left Istanbul Airport under police escort and headed to a hotel in the city. They will return to Iran on Wednesday, the Turkish private news agency reported. Seven members of the delegation had sought sanctuary in Australia last week after they were branded &quot;traitors&quot; at home for refusing to sing the national anthem at their opening Women&#39;s Asian Cup game. Only two remain in Australia after the others changed their minds. Rights groups have accused Tehran of pressuring athletes abroad by threatening relatives with the seizure of property if they defect or make statements against the Islamic Republic. Iranian authorities had, in turn, accused Australia of pressuring the players to stay.

Members of Iran's women's football team arrive at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang on March 16, 2026, after staying in a hotel in the Malaysian capital while awaiting the next leg of their journey home. (AFP)

Football

Iranian players traveled via Malaysia to Turkey under escort after Asian Cup exit; some sought asylum in Australia amid pressure claims, most returning home Wednesday.

Iran women's football team arrive in Turkey on way home

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: The FIFA senior vice president, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, on Thursday said he is looking forward to visiting Pakistan and Pakistan TV again. He said this during his visit to Pakistan TV, where he was briefed about the channel&rsquo;s operations.&nbsp; Sheikh Salman is on an official four-day visit to Pakistan from November 4-7 and has been accorded &lsquo;state guest&rsquo; status by the Pakistani government.&nbsp; Highlighting the crucial role media plays, he appreciated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Minister of Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar&rsquo;s vision of having a quality 24/7 international broadcasting channel in Pakistan. <img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/e54bd167-b07f-4868-85f6-15595eb22d5a-sattv_meeting_251106x.png" alt="Head of Pakistan TV Adil Shahzeb welcomes FIFA Senior Vice President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa during his visit to Pakistan TV in Islamabad on November&nbsp;6,&nbsp;2025." class="fr-fic fr-dib"><figcaption style="text-align: center;" id="isPasted">Head of Pakistan TV Adil Shahzeb welcomes FIFA Senior Vice President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa during his visit to Pakistan TV in Islamabad on November 6, 2025. (Photo: Pakistan TV Satellite)</figcaption> In an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV, the FIFA senior vice president said Pakistan possesses remarkable football talent and affirmed FIFA&rsquo;s commitment to providing all necessary support and resources to promote the sport&rsquo;s growth in the country and ensure equal opportunities for Pakistani players. &ldquo;Pakistan has splendid talent in football. FIFA and AFC will provide all the tools and necessary support to ensure the growth of football in Pakistan and to provide equal opportunities to Pakistani players,&rdquo; Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa said. He said programmes will be introduced in Pakistan to find top notch talent in players, coaches and referees. Sheikh Salman hailed Pakistani women participation in football, terming it equally important as contribution of men. He termed relationship between Pakistan and Bahrain historic, particularly mentioning Pakistan&rsquo;s former football coach who hailed from Bahrain. &ldquo;The exchange of teams and players is a hallmark of this relationship, [between Pakistan and Bahrain],&rdquo; he added. Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa called FIFA more than a global body for sports, calling it an organization that has connected the world.

FIFA Senior Vice President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa visits Pakistan TV in Islamabad on November 6, 2025.

SAT News Desk

Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa is on an official four-day visit to Pakistan from November 4-7 and has been accorded ‘state guest’ status by the Pakistani government. 

Articles tagged with "football"

Iran women's football team arrive in Turkey on way home

FIFA senior vice president looks forward to visiting Pakistan and Pakistan TV again