Three imperatives regarding the Iranian National Women’s Team:

1. The players who have sought protection from Australia must be able to access legal advice independent of the Australian government. This is a fundamental part of refugee rights;

2. No player should be in a position whereby they leave Australia without having a safe, confidential opportunity to understand and exercise their rights and decide of their own volition; and

3. For any players that do choose or are forced to return to Iran, FIFA is obliged to apply its leverage to the Iranian Federation such that there is a clear understanding that any harm emanating from their actions within a FIFA tournament whether to they, or their families, would be considered a grave breach of a member’s duties of protection.

It’s important in that event, that while the eyes of the world are elsewhere, the eyes of the football world remain on the returning Iranian team members.

And that accountability is a given.

It would be good for any football organisations or fan groups around the world to write to FIFA in this regard.

There must be an expectation that FIFA will urgently communicate the need for their safe return.

And given the public threats against them, the Iranian Federation has a positive duty to ensure their safety.

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