Saudi Arabians apologise after players ignore minute’s silence for terror victims before clash with Socceroos at Adelaide Oval
SAUDI players’ refusal to respect a minute’s silence for London terror victims has been condemned across the nation — with everyone from an SA Socceroo to the Loxton Mayor and senior politicians weighing in.
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THE Saudi Arabian team’s refusal to respect a minute’s silence for London terror victims at Adelaide Oval has been condemned across the nation — with everyone from a South Australian Socceroo to the Loxton Mayor and senior politicians weighing in.
When the Socceroos gathered around the centre circle on Thursday night before kick-off to pay their respects to the victims of the recent terror attacks in London, defender Ryan McGowan said all he wished for was respect.
But the Saudi Arabian team refused to line up opposite their opponents, as is the tradition ahead of football matches when observing a moment’s silence.
Instead, the players took up their positions on the field. Some Saudi players did stand silently with their hands behind their backs but others continued their warm-up.
“For us more importantly as a team we wanted to show our respects to the people that lost their lives and made sure we did the right thing,’’ McGowan said on Friday.
“What they (the Saudis) did we really don’t have any control over, we just wanted to make sure we observed it properly.”
Saudi Arabian officials have since apologised for the incident.
Before the minute’s silence, the announcer made particular mention of South Australian victim Kirsty Boden, who grew up in Loxton, and Queensland victim Sara Zelenak.
Loxton Mayor Leon Stasinowsky said the Saudi team’s actions would be disappointing to Ms Boden’s family and friends.
“I would say they would be disappointed because … you (should) forget about your different political allegiances … and show respect no matter where you’re from,” he said.
“My first reaction to that is I’m certainly very surprised that being an international side like that they wouldn’t at least take part ... to show some respect for that.”
Nation condemns Saudi snub
The snub has been widely condemned across Australia on social media and by politicians and media commentators.
Premier Jay Weatherill this morning said the incident was “deeply regrettable”.
“I note the Saudi Arabian Football Federation has apologised, which I think is entirely appropriate,” he said.
Senior Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese slammed the Saudi players for their lack of respect and denied it had anything to do with culture.
“That was a disgraceful lack of respect not just for the two Australians killed, one of whom was a young South Australian, all of those victims of that terror attack in London. There is no excuse here,” he told Today.
“This isn’t about culture, this is about a lack of respect. I thought it was disgraceful. It’s bloody disgraceful, I’m so angry about this.”
While Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull didn’t criticise the Saudi players directly, he said: “Everybody, everyone should be united in condemnation with the terrorists and love, and sympathy and respect for the victims and their families.”
Conservative Australian politicians, including SA Senator Cory Bernardi, SA politician Dennis Hood and One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson also expressed their outrage at the Saudi’s disrespect.
Saudis issue apology
Saudi football officials this morning issued an apology following widespread condemnation of its team’s actions.
“The Saudi Arabian Football Federation deeply regrets and unreservedly apologises for any offence caused by the failure of some members of the representative team of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to formally observe the one minute’s silence in memory of the victims of the London terrorist attack on June 3 2017, prior to the World Cup qualifying match against Australia,” the statement read.
“The players did not intent any disrespect to the memories of the victims or to cause upset to their families, friends or any individual affected by the atrocity.
“The Saudi Arabian Football Federation condemns all acts of terrorism and extremism and extends its sincerest condolences to the families of all the victims and to the government and people of the United Kingdom.”
The minute’s silence had been approved by the Asian Football Federation before the game and communicated to both teams.
A spokesman for the FFA said they were told before the game that the Saudi team would not be taking part in the tribute.
The spokesman said: “The FFA sought agreement from the Asian Football Confederation and the Saudi national team to hold a minute’s silence in memory of those lost in Saturday night’s terror bombings in London and in particular the two Australian women.
“Both the AFC and the Saudi team agreed that the minute of silence could be held.
“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.”
Saudi team honoured minute’s silence last year
However, the excuse that a minute’s silence is not in keeping with Saudi culture was quickly contradicted by this photo, taken just last year.
Players from the Saudi club Al-Ahli lined up to observe a minute’s silence in Doha, Qatar, in December.
All the players, including the Saudis, marked the silence to honour the memory of members of the Brazilian soccer team Chapecoense who were killed in a plane crash.
Media commentators weight into debate
Sunrise host Sam Armytage blasted the players and said the move was “bloody disgraceful”.
Armytage didn’t hold back this morning and said there was nothing cultural about disrespect shown to two dead Australians.
“When we go to the Middle East, when we went to Dubai for the show a few years ago we respect their custom, you cover your shoulders because it’s respectful to do that in their country,” she said.
“Surely they can be respectful for one minute.”
Comedian Dave Hughes also weighed into the debate, saying the team shouldn’t be allowed in Australia.
It’s understood a minority of Saudi Arabian fans also failed to pause and observe the silence in the Adelaide Oval crowd — although some locals have claimed on The Advertiser Facebook page that a few Socceroos fans also did not observe the minute’s silence.
In the match itself, a superb strike from Tom Rogic helped the Socceroos to a 3-1 win, Australia joining Japan and Saudi Arabia on 16 points in Group B.
How football fans reacted
Many Australian football fans slammed the Saudi Arabians, called their actions disgusting and disrespectful.
Most of the Saudi Arabian side are Muslim and the custom of pausing for a moment’s silence to honour the dead is not common under Islam. Instead, it is custom to pray for the dead, give to charity on their behalf and remember.