saudis apologise over disgraceful snub of minutes silence
Saturday 12 July 2025
Last Updated : GMT 09:40:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

In honour of victims of the London terror attack

Saudis apologise over 'disgraceful' snub of minute's silence

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicleSaudis apologise over 'disgraceful' snub of minute's silence

Saudi Arabia football chiefs apologised Friday
Sydney - Muslimchronicle

Saudi Arabia football chiefs apologised Friday after the national team was accused of "a disgraceful lack of respect" for failing to observe a minute's silence in Australia in honour of victims of the London terror attack.

When the stadium announcer in Adelaide called for silence before their World Cup qualifier against the Socceroos on Thursday evening, the Australian team lined up at the centre circle with arms on their team-mates' shoulders.

But most of the Saudis milled around and spread out to various parts of the field, with team officials claiming the tradition of stopping to honour the dead was "not in keeping with Saudi culture".

It left fans and politicians in Australia fuming. Two Australians were among the eight killed last weekend when three Islamist extremists mowed down people on London Bridge before going on a stabbing spree.

"The Saudi Arabian Football Federation deeply regrets and unreservedly apologises for any offence caused by the failure... to formally observe the one minute's silence," federation president Adil Ezzat said in a rare statement.

"The players did not intend any disrespect to the memories of the victims or to cause upset to their families, friends or any individual affected by the atrocity."

Asked about the Saudi team's attitude, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said "everybody, everyone should be united in condemnation of the terrorists and love and sympathy and respect for the victims and their families".

Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese called the snub "a disgraceful lack of respect for not just the two Australians who were killed... but also all of those victims of that terror attack in London".

"There's no excuse here. This isn't about culture. This is about a lack of respect and I thought it was disgraceful."

Senator Derryn Hinch was also outraged, saying: "It is an insult," while Twitter lit up with criticism.

Twitter-user Frank Gardner posted "disgraceful and disrespectful", while Paul Jurdeczka said: "Minute silence not in Saudi culture. Except when it suits them. About showing respect. Which is human."
 

- 'Respect our custom' -

Football Federation Australia said agreement had been sought from the Asian Football Confederation and the Saudi team to pause and remember those killed in the terror attack.

"Both the AFC and the Saudi team agreed that the minute of silence could be held," an FFA spokesman told AFP.

"The FFA was further advised by Saudi team officials that this tradition was not in keeping with Saudi culture and they would move to their side of the field and respect our custom whilst taking their own positions on the field."

The Islamic State group, which claimed the London killings, has also carried out deadly bombing and shooting attacks in Saudi Arabia against minority Shiites and members of the security forces.

Saudi authorities routinely denounce "terrorist" attacks around the world but the kingdom has itself faced accusations of tolerating or even supporting extremists, in particular after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. 

Australia won the match 3-2 to stay on track for next year's World Cup finals in Russia.

The Australians joined Japan and Saudi Arabia at the top of Asia Group B and now face a huge game against Japan in Saitama on August 31.

Source: AFP

themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

saudis apologise over disgraceful snub of minutes silence saudis apologise over disgraceful snub of minutes silence

 



Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

GMT 08:26 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Five things to know about Davos

GMT 09:08 2015 Sunday ,01 November

England remove Pakistan openers in third Test

GMT 07:44 2017 Tuesday ,24 October

Macron faces rights test as Egypt's Sisi visits Paris

GMT 21:29 2017 Tuesday ,07 March

Maguire confident Tigers can claw out of danger

GMT 10:27 2017 Sunday ,24 September

Tullow Oil to restart drilling in Ghana after ruling

GMT 07:33 2015 Sunday ,18 October

Spain's Rins win Australian Moto2 GP

GMT 08:51 2017 Sunday ,24 December

Zimbabwe ex-army chief Chiwenga named ruling party VP

GMT 20:13 2017 Thursday ,16 March

Bowling, table tennis achievements lauded

GMT 09:40 2017 Monday ,04 December

Stade down Racing, Clermont edge plucky Agen

GMT 14:36 2017 Tuesday ,21 February

Israeli Forces Detain Five Palestinians in Hebron

GMT 13:01 2011 Thursday ,01 December

World\'s longest model train in hamburg

GMT 01:29 2015 Thursday ,12 February

Qatar's PM meets Iraqi president

GMT 11:37 2017 Tuesday ,10 October

Nuzman stays in prison in Rio graft probe

GMT 14:39 2017 Wednesday ,08 March

Bird flu hits US poultry imports to Asia

GMT 11:50 2012 Thursday ,02 August

Mobiles, Internet cut in Syria\'s Aleppo

GMT 21:13 2017 Saturday ,10 June

South Africa shock Nigeria in CAN qualifier

GMT 00:26 2017 Saturday ,04 March

Real Madrid legend Raymond Kopa dies aged 85

GMT 21:17 2017 Sunday ,22 October

Saudi Arabia has historical ties to Iraq

GMT 16:57 2014 Tuesday ,07 January

Best modern sofa trends

GMT 10:34 2017 Sunday ,27 August

The Sunday Times Style names features editor
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
 
 Themuslimchronicle Facebook,themuslimchronicle facebook  Themuslimchronicle Twitter,themuslimchronicle twitter Themuslimchronicle Rss,themuslimchronicle rss  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle