Two more Iranian soccer players have made a dramatic bid for freedom and sought asylum in Australia just as the team was due to depart the country.

Multiple reports say two members of the Iranian women’s soccer team on Tuesday night joined five others who were earlier granted a humanitarian visa.

News Corp reports that two athletes sought protection and remained in Brisbane while the rest of the team flew to Sydney ahead of their departure to Kuala Lumpur.

The remaining Lionesses flew out of Australia on Tuesday night amid emotional scenes at Sydney’s international terminal, where protesters rallied for the squad.

They earlier left a Gold Coast hotel under police guard before flying to Sydney.

In a video published by Nine newspapers, one player could be seen apparently being dragged onto the bus by a teammate.

Home Affairs minister Tony Burke said border officials spoke to all the players at Sydney airport and offered them the opportunity to remain in Australia.

The ABC reports that at least one player refused to board the flight at the last minute.

One player appeared to be forced onto the bus when leaving their Gold Coast hotel. Photo: Nine Network

There are grave fears for the safety of the rest of the departing soccer players as they make their way back to war-torn Iran.

Protesters had tried to block the bus from leaving for the airport.

Demonstrators opposed to the Iranian government also turned up at Sydney airport on Tuesday night.

Players were branded “wartime traitors” on Iranian state TV for not singing the national anthem before their first Asian Cup match, just days after the killing of late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-led strikes.

The women who will stay in Australia include captain Zahra Ghanbari and players Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramezanizadeh and Mona Hamoudi.

The asylum offer was open to other players if they decided to seek assistance, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday.

Protesters at the airport weep for the fate of the players leaving Australia. Photo: AAP

Iranian refugee advocate Ara Rasuli, who was involved with the asylum process, said the federal government had “opened every avenue for the girls to stay here and to be protected”. She said the players who returned to Iran possibly faced execution, and their families faced retaliation from the regime.

“They are in a lot of danger,” she said.

“There are all sorts of different threats, such as taking the families into custody, taking over their assets … and that’s why most of the girls are choosing to go back home, because the threats are a big issue in this matter.”

Retired Socceroos captain and human rights activist Craig Foster called for reform of global sport governance as women continued to be placed in these situations “far too often”.

“There will have to be accountability by the Asian Football Confederation and by FIFA as to what did not occur, what processes were not in place … this should have been avoidable,” he said.

“It was foreseeable before the tournament. What has happened is neither uncommon … and was preventable.”

There have been previous instances where athletes have claimed asylum during sporting events, including when the Afghan women’s cricket team, staff and family members fled to Australia after the Taliban’s takeover in 2021.

In a statement, the Australian Federal Police said it had assisted the Home Affairs Department in providing asylum to the Iranian women.

“The AFP has long and enduring relationships with the Iranian diaspora through the AFP’s community liaison teams,” it said.

“The AFP acknowledges the community leaders, not-for-profit groups and ordinary Australians for their assistance and advocacy in this matter.”

-with AAP