Episode Details

They came to represent their country at the Asia Cup; now a number of players will stay behind - seeking asylum from the nation they played for just days earlier.

The federal government has granted temporary humanitarian visas to five members of the Iranian women's football team, with the government expected to announce this morning that additional players have also stayed behind.

They join generations of Iranian-Australians who have fled the brutal theocracy - with Iran regularly among the top three countries of origin for Australia's humanitarian visa program.

• GUEST: Moones Mansoubi, an Iranian-Australian woman working for Settlement Services International and coordinator of the Community Refugee Welcome Centre in Sydney's inner-west. 
• PRODUCER: Eddy Diamond