New Delhi, March 16 -- A fifth player from the Iranian women's soccer team has withdrew her claim for asylum in Australia and has began making her way back home from Malaysia along with four others. Australia had granted humanitarian visas to the team players and one support staff, fearing possible persecution back home.

The concerns over their safty emerged after the players did not sing their national anthem at a women's Asian Cup match. It was taken as a gesture of protest by some.

Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke had then said, "When those players were silent at the start of their first match in Australia, that silence was heard as a roar all around the world. We responded by saying, the invitation is there. In Australia ...