NewzVille Sports Desk
Members of the Iranian women’s national football team returned home through the Bazargan border crossing with Turkey, completing a return journey from Australia.
Australia had granted humanitarian visas to six players and one support staff member after they sought asylum, saying they feared possible persecution if they returned to Iran.
The team flew into Istanbul on Tuesday, took a flight to Igdir in eastern Turkey on Wednesday. After a trip of around two hours to the frontier, they went through passport control at the Gurbulak border gate before crossing over into Iran.
Members of Iran’s team were greeted with a “welcome ceremony” upon their return. Players were handed bouquets of flowers and signed what appeared to be mini-soccer balls.
