Two Iranian soccer players who sought asylum in Australia say they have been overwhelmed by support as they look to rebuild their lives.
Atefeh Ramezanisadeh and Fatemeh Pasandideh have expressed their gratitude after accepting an offer to stay in Australia following Iran's controversial Asian Cup campaign.
"The compassion and support shown to us during this challenging time has provided us with hope for a future where we can live and compete in safety," they said in a joint statement on Friday.
