Letter of Iranian Sports and Youth Minister to Australian Sports Minister
Tehran - BORNA - A stern letter from the Minister of Sports and Youth of the Islamic Republic of Iran to his Australian counterpart was addressed, strongly criticizing the behavior that was "political and incompatible with diplomatic and sporting standards" of this country in hosting Iran's national women's football team, and emphasizing Iran's right to pursue this behavior and claim compensation from the host of the Asian Nations Cup.
The letter from Dr. Ahmad Donyamali to "Anika Shay Wells" (Australia's Minister of Sports) states:
Her Excellency Ms. Anika Shay Wells
Honorable Minister for Sport of Australia
Your Excellency,
Through this communication, the Islamic Republic of Iran hereby conveys its profound dissatisfaction with the manner in which the AFC Women’s Asian Cup matches were conducted in Australia. It was expected that a nation with a distinguished record of hosting major sporting events would serve as a model of impartiality and adherence to professional standards. Regrettably, despite repeated emphasis on the imperative of separating sports from politics, the Iranian delegation witnessed politically motivated actions by relevant Australian authorities, which stand in clear violation of the Olympic Charter and the statutes of FIFA.
Firstly, contrary to explicit FIFA regulations, flags other than the official flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran—recognized by FIFA—were displayed in the stadium stands. This act represents a clear violation of fundamental legal and sporting principles.
Furthermore, organized agitators disrupted the sporting atmosphere by chanting political slogans, creating a tense environment that visibly affected the psychological well-being and concentration of our athletes. Such actions not only contravene the ethics of professional sports but also constitute a blatant breach of the host country’s obligations toward its sporting guests.
Evidence indicates that these unprofessional acts were not confined to the stadium stands, and that they were premeditated. From the moment our national women's football team arrived in Australia, their peace and concentration were targeted by recurrent and organized disruptions perpetrated by certain individuals and groups.
More egregiously, the conduct of the Australian government’s officials was deeply concerning. In a manner entirely inconsistent with diplomatic and sporting norms—and seemingly under pressure from the U.S. government—no measures were taken to prevent these provocations. Instead, Australian police officers, in an interventionist and unprofessional act, separately approached each player at the airport, distributing asylum application forms and encouraging them to abandon their homeland. This measure constitutes a prime example of direct state intervention in the personal sphere of athletes and a manifest breach of international legally binding instruments.
These events occurred while the U.S. President Donald Trump—who has proven unsuccessful in confronting the resilient Iranian nation—on one hand, issues orders for the direct shelling of an elementary school, resulting in the martyrdom of over 165 innocent Iranian schoolgirls, and on the other, pressures the Australian government, paving the way for the abduction of Iranian female athletes. This contradiction lays bare the true nature of the self-proclaimed advocates of human rights.
It is evident that failure to fulfill the duties incumbent upon the host country and the lack of appropriate action against those disrupting the order and psychological well-being of the athletes seriously undermines the credibility of professional sports and sports diplomacy. Therefore, the Islamic Republic of Iran, while reserving its legitimate right to pursue this matter in competent international bodies, including FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), as well as the right to claim compensation for the moral and financial damages inflicted upon its athletes and the dispatched delegation, expects the Australian government to conduct a thorough and precise review of these events, to accept its international responsibilities, to fundamentally change its approach to prevent the recurrence of such behaviors contradictory to sporting principles in the future, and to facilitate the conditions for the safe return of all members of our national team.
Ahmad Donyamali
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