* Five players on the Iranian women's soccer team, known as the Lionesses, who have been competing in the women's Asian Cup
* Group includes captain Zahra Ghanbari and players Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramezanizadeh and Mona Hamoudi
WHAT WERE THE SAFETY CONCERNS?
* The players did not sing or salute Iran's national anthem before their first fixture of the tournament, days after US strikes on Tehran.
* Iranian state media branded the Lionesses "wartime traitors" and called for punishment, sparking fears team members would be persecuted or killed on their return
* Iran engages in arbitrary detention, cruel and inhumane penalties and forced disappearances, according to Amnesty International
* Fears grew when at least one player appeared to make an SOS hand signal after Iran's match on Sunday night as community groups pleaded with Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke to intervene
HOW WAS ASYLUM GRANTED?
* The squad was staying under Iranian minders' supervision at the Royal Pines Resort on the Gold CoastÂ
* Conversations with some players about protection began early on Monday morning, Mr Burke said
* Under police guard, five women were moved from the hotel to a safe house on Monday
* Cleared by ASIO, the group was granted asylum and humanitarian visas early on Tuesday
* The remaining 21 members of the team squad can seek assistance and asylum, Mr Burke says.
HAS THIS HAPPENED BEFORE?
* After the Sydney Olympics in 2000, 145 people reportedly overstayed their visas, 35 applying for asylum
* At the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, 26 athletes and officials remained in Australia seeking protection visas. The number rose to 255 for the 2018 Games on the Gold Coast.
* The Afghan women's cricket team, staff and family members - 130 people total - escaped to Australia after the Taliban's takeover of Kabul in 2021.
* Australia issued 3250 permanent protection visas in the 12 months to June 2024
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