BRISBANE — Iranian footballers Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh thanked the Australian government this month for granting them humanitarian visas and said they hoped to resume their sporting careers after rebuilding their lives. The statement marked their first public comments since being granted humanitarian protection.

"We wish to express our deepest gratitude to the Australian government, and particularly Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, for granting us humanitarian protection and a safe haven in this beautiful country," the two players said. They said the compassion and support shown to them provided hope for a future where they could live and compete in safety.

"At this stage, our primary focus is on our safety, our health and beginning the process of rebuilding our lives," the players said. "We are elite athletes, and it remains our dream to continue our sporting careers here in Australia."

Pasandideh and Ramezanisadeh began training with the Brisbane Roar women's team last month. Australia initially granted humanitarian visas to six players and one support staff member from the Iranian squad. Five of those seven people later returned to Iran, leaving only the two players in Australia.

Concerns over the Iranian players' safety surfaced after several players did not sing the national anthem at an Asian Cup match. Five members of the squad refused to sing the anthem before their first match against South Korea. Iranian state television labelled the players who did not sing the national anthem "wartime traitors."

After their elimination in three games, five members of the squad claimed asylum and were granted humanitarian visas by Australia. A sixth team member and a support staff member later also claimed asylum, bringing the total to seven. By the time the team left Australia on March 10, five of those individuals had reversed course and returned to Iran. The rest of the team arrived back in Iran on March 19 via the Turkish border.

"I don't think anyone believes that their lives are back to normal. We can anticipate that every sort of communication is monitored and that male members of their families are being pressured. That is what has happened in the past, and it's likely happening now," said Zohreh Abdollahkhani, founder of Human Rights for Sport.