As the Iranian women’s soccer team prepare to fly out of Australia, they will be met with extra Australian Federal Police and government officials at the airport ready to assist should any wish to seek asylum.

The team and supporting staff are on flights from Gold Coast Airport to Sydney, where they are expected to fly out of the country late on Tuesday night.

Five members of the soccer team have been granted humanitarian visas in Australia following their elimination in the Asian Cup – held in Australia from March 1 to 21.

The extra police at the airport will be ready to assist any other team members who wish to seek asylum, ABC reporter Tracey Holmes said on Tuesday afternoon.

Immigration Minister Tony Burke later confirmed the women had been granted humanitarian visas and moved to a ‘safe location’ after urgent discussions between the players and Australian officials.

‘They want to be clear they are not political activists. They are athletes who want to be safe,’ Burke told News Corp.

The five women who sought protection have been identified as Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Ghanbari, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramazanzadeh and Mona Hamoudi.

Unconfirmed online reports suggest a sixth player has accepted a visa. It’s rumoured two more players are also seeking to stay in Australia. 

At least five members of the Iranian women’s soccer team have accepted humanitarian visas to stay in Australia

An increased police presence and protesters were stationed around Gold Coast Airport in case any more teammates wanted to remain in Australia

Iranian-Aussie immigration lawyer Ian Avayee told Daily Mail the two players, and another woman who had travelled to Australia with the group, did not want to return to Iran.

One of the players was trying to phone her mother back Iran to tell her of her decision before she made it official.

Several protesters were stationed throughout the airport to urge the women to stay in Australia. 

While the five players are now expected to remain in Australia under humanitarian protection, the fate of their teammates remains uncertain.

Australia had knocked back the visas of some officials, sources familiar with the matter told AAP, but there were concerns that handlers were coercing the remaining players to return to Iran and not apply for asylum.

The Home Affairs Department would not confirm how many visas were refused on security or character grounds, citing privacy restrictions.

‘The Department of Home Affairs works with law enforcement and intelligence partners to cancel or refuse visas of non-citizens who are at risk to Australia’s national security,’ a spokesperson said in a statement.

Fears for the women’s safety was triggered after they held a silent protest by refusing to sing Iran’s national anthem before their match with South Korea last week.

Protesters laid in front of the team’s bus on Monday to try and delay the women’s departure

Iranian-Aussie immigration lawyer Ian Avayee (above) told Daily Mail two more players, and another woman who had travelled to Australia with the group, wanted to stay

The move sparked massive debate within Iran with one conservative commentator labelling the group ‘wartime traitors’ and calling for harsh punishment. 

Before protesters headed to the airport, they attempted to stop the Iranian team’s bus from leaving their hotel.

One member of the Iranian team appeared to be dragged onto the bus by a teammate before the demonstrators laid on the ground in front of the vehicle.

Queensland Police cars were in a convoy accompanying the Iranians’ bus to the airport. 

One officer told the Daily Mail that one of the protesters supporting team members had ‘rammed’ the bus.

The demonstrators were chanting ‘save our girls’ as they lay in front of the vehicle.

More to come…