silence outrage
THE Saudi Arabia football team ignored a minute's silence held in memory of the victims of the London Bridge terror attack.
There was outrage among fans as the Saudi players failed to pause in tribute to the eight people killed in London when three terrorists struck on Saturday night.
5
The pause was held before the country's World Cup qualifying match against Australia in Adelaide today.
Keep up to date with ALL the latest football news, gossip and rumours
But while the Australian side bowed their heads together and the rest of the crowd stood to reflect, the Saudi side trotted around continuing to warm up for the game.
Even the substitutes and coaching staff on the bench failed to rise to their feet, while there were claims Saudi supporters shouted throughout the supposed period of silence.
The Football Federation of Australia wanted to pay their respects to the fallen in London, who included two Australian nationals.
5
5
Three terrorists wearing fake suicide vests drove a van into pedestrians at 50mph on London Bridge before attacking revellers with hunting knives.
In an attack lasting little over eight minutes, the terrorist gang screaming “This is for Allah!”, launched their rampage, stabbing and slashing at innocent victims with 12 inch blades.
5
A spokesperson for the FFA said they were told before the game that the Saudi team would not be taking part in the tribute.
The spokesperson 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."
The Muslim Saudi culture does not recognise that moments of silence show sadness and they prefer to pray or give to charity instead.
But a picture has emerged of the Al-Ahli Saudi FC side pausing for a minute's silence ahead of their Qatar Airways Cup match against Barcelona in December last year.
5
The club side paused before kick-off to honour the memory of members of the Brazilian soccer team Chapecoense after the tragic plane crash that killed 71 people - including all but three of their squad.
Players are seen standing with their heads bowed and their arms linked.
As Thursday's game was a World Cup qualifier, any planned tributes have to be cleared by Fifa before they are held, usually in the knowledge of both teams competing.
Australia won the match 3-2, leaving them in pole position in the race to qualify for the World Cup in Russia next summer.
Saudi fans have claimed on social media it was not within Islamic culture to take a moment of silence to respect the dead.
'They come from a different culture. They just don't understand the point of being silence for a minute to show sadness.. we never do it in KSA,' one fan wrote.'