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  "path": "/sport/football/iran-womens-football-captain-pushiment",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-13T20:53:08.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Ex-Chelsea star U-turns after 'new information' emerges in row which left stepdaughter in tears",
    "EFL star announces he is expecting a baby with his manager's daughter",
    "Rugby match delayed after a 'bomb' discovered as disposal experts rushed to the scene",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nThe Iranian government has confiscated all assets belonging to Zahra Ghanbari, captain of the national women's football team, despite previously guaranteeing she would not face repercussions for returning home.\n\nGhanbari, who has earned 22 caps for her country, was among 400 Iranian citizens placed on an official \"supporters of the enemy\" list by the Islamic Republic this weekend.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nWhen the footballer travelled back to Iran, state media portrayed her decision as patriotic, with the official IRNA news agency describing her as \"returning to the embrace of the homeland.\"\n\nIranian authorities had given assurances to the international community that neither Ghanbari nor her teammates would be penalised.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe asset seizure directly contradicts those pledges.\n\nThe controversy stems from events at the Asia Cup in late February, when Iran's women's squad arrived in Australia shortly before US and Israeli military strikes killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.\n\nOn March 2, the players stood in silence as their national anthem played ahead of a fixture with South Korea.\n\nThis wordless act of defiance prompted Iranian media to brand the team \"wartime traitors.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nOne player reportedly received a voice message from her mother warning: \"Don't come [back to Iran] they'll kill you.\"\n\nA separate communication, smuggled out of Iran by a player's family, urged the squad: \"You need to stay.\"\n\nAustralia offered the squad asylum amid fears they would face persecution upon returning home.\n\nUS President Donald Trump was among world leaders who intervened, warning the players \"will most likely be killed\" if permitted to go back to Iran.\n\n### LATEST SPORT NEWS\n\n\n\n\n  * Ex-Chelsea star U-turns after 'new information' emerges in row which left stepdaughter in tears\n  * EFL star announces he is expecting a baby with his manager's daughter\n  * Rugby match delayed after a 'bomb' discovered as disposal experts rushed to the scene\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nGhanbari and six teammates initially accepted humanitarian visas from the Australian government, only to reverse their decisions within days.\n\nReports indicate threats directed at the players' families back in Iran influenced their choices.\n\nFour additional squad members have since returned to their homelands, leaving only two players in Australia.\n\nThose who stayed have joined Brisbane Roar, including Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh, who now call Australia home following the dramatic events surrounding the tournament.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe crackdown extends well beyond athletes, with the regime primarily targeting individuals connected to two Persian-language media organisations, Iran International and Manoto.\n\nBoth outlets gained significant audiences through their coverage of the \"Woman, Life, Freedom\" protests in 2023 and nationwide demonstrations earlier this year.\n\nThe Islamic Republic accused Iran International of links to Israel, though the London and Washington-based agency is owned by Volant Media and holds a UK broadcasting licence through Global Media.\n\nOther prominent names on the list include actor Hamid Farokhnezhad, singers Ashkan Khatibi and Mazyar Fallahi, television presenter Parastoo Salehi, and former footballer Mohammad Ali Karimi.\n\nAsset seizures encompass bank accounts alongside movable and immovable property, with occupants typically evicted from confiscated homes before properties are auctioned or repurposed by authorities.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Iran seize all assets of women’s football captain after she denied refuge in Australia to return"
}