The dramatic standoff involving the Iranian women's soccer team has come to a shocking end. Seven players had sought asylum in Australia after being branded traitors at home. They famously refused to sing the national anthem to protest their regime. But the pressure became too much to bear. Three more players dropped their bids for freedom this weekend and boarded a flight back to Tehran. They were allegedly hounded by text messages and threats against their families. Even Donald Trump posted on social media that they should be careful. He said he didn't believe it was appropriate for them to be at the World Cup for their own safety. The Australian government says the women made the decision themselves, but the Iranian diaspora is calling it a tragedy. They believe the players were coerced into returning to a war zone. It is a heartbreaking conclusion to a brave stand for human rights. The girls are now on their way back to a country where their future is uncertain. It is a high-stakes drama that has moved from the soccer pitch to the world stage. The world watched them stand for freedom, and now we watch them fly back to the shadows.