A FEW GOOD MAN – Or one, to be more precise. While the rest of the Saudi national soccer team disregarded the minute of silence for the victims of the latest terrorist attack in London, midfielder Salman Al-Faraj does the right thing and respectfully stands still.
Before losing 3:2 to Australia, the Saudis players chose to walk to their positions while the Australian team lined up to pay their respect. Apparently a minute’s silence was “not in keeping with Saudi culture.”
This is very much a secular tradition; it’s not like the Saudis were asked to kneel and pray for the souls of those murdered in London a few days ago. But far be it for us to impose any cultural traditions on visitors from overseas; I’m sure the Saudis wouldn’t try to do otherwise with people coming to their country.