# Saudi Arabian National Team Refuses to Participate i Moment of Silence for Manchestet Victims **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 8, 2017, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-arabian-national-team-refuses-to-participate-i-moment-of-silence-for-manchestet-victims/788445 "2017-06-08T18:22:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-arabian-national-team-refuses-to-participate-i-moment-of-silence-for-manchestet-victims/788445/21 "2017-06-08T19:02:04Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > I got an alert from espn on my phone but good luck finding a link. They did link video so there is that. This was unclear. Espn sent an alert which i opened. I tried to find a link with no luck so o googled and chose the one that wasnt the Daily Mail. So apologies for the worse link. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-arabian-national-team-refuses-to-participate-i-moment-of-silence-for-manchestet-victims/788445/22 "2017-06-08T19:10:48Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Outrage over non-outrage. So meta! > Wrong question, if you’re going for a _tu quoque_. How many times did they decline to do so when asked? An excellent point. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-arabian-national-team-refuses-to-participate-i-moment-of-silence-for-manchestet-victims/788445/23 "2017-06-08T19:12:47Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > You are a lonely man, arent you? Irrelevent ad hominem attack. While I have no sympathy with what the Saudi team did, what you said was wrong. It’s no good claiming hyperbole after the fact. You should acknowledge your lapse in judgment and move on. ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-arabian-national-team-refuses-to-participate-i-moment-of-silence-for-manchestet-victims/788445/24 "2017-06-08T19:16:29Z")
They’re football players. Somebody probably told them what to do 45 seconds beforehand, forgetting that the average memory retention period of a football player is 15.6 seconds. ---
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-arabian-national-team-refuses-to-participate-i-moment-of-silence-for-manchestet-victims/788445/25 "2017-06-08T19:19:39Z")
> [@RobDog](#): > > They’re football players. Somebody probably told them what to do 45 seconds beforehand, forgetting that the average memory retention period of a football player is 15.6 seconds. well this is a defense it can be admitted. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-arabian-national-team-refuses-to-participate-i-moment-of-silence-for-manchestet-victims/788445/26 "2017-06-08T19:23:43Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > [http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/saudi-arabia-players-fail-line-10584951](http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/saudi-arabia-players-fail-line-10584951) > > Whats there to say? These are the vilest people alive today. Id wish the same tragedy would happen to their sisters and daughters but they arent allowed to go to concerts. Quick question. If your wish comes true, and the families of these players are brutally murdered, will _you_ stand for a moment of silence in memory of them? ---
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-arabian-national-team-refuses-to-participate-i-moment-of-silence-for-manchestet-victims/788445/27 "2017-06-08T19:33:53Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > One does wonder what their reason is. Perhaps it is a cultural difference. Of course, they could be jerks. The [Australian soccer federation says…](http://deadspin.com/saudi-national-team-declines-to-participate-in-pregame-1795931033) > [@](#): > > “Both the (Asian Football Confederation) and the Saudi team agreed that the minute of silence could be held,” the Australian federation said, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. “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.” However: > [@](#): > > Adam Peacock, an Australian television presenter who was at the stadium for the match, reported on Twitter that during the moment of silence itself, all but one of the Saudi players stood still in their positions—the exception being the team’s captain, who continued to stretch and jog. So, during the moment of silence, the Saudi players (save one)…stood in silence, just not in a line. This is a non-story. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-arabian-national-team-refuses-to-participate-i-moment-of-silence-for-manchestet-victims/788445/28 "2017-06-08T19:36:29Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > [http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/saudi-arabia-players-fail-line-10584951](http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/saudi-arabia-players-fail-line-10584951) > > Whats there to say? These are the vilest people alive today. Id wish the same tragedy would happen to their sisters and daughters but they arent allowed to go to concerts. What the fuck is wrong with you? Seriously. Jesus. You, upon seeing a group of people being jerks, wished not that the jerks got hit by a bomb, but that their sisters and daughters should get hit by a bomb. Think about what you just did for second. Think about it. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-arabian-national-team-refuses-to-participate-i-moment-of-silence-for-manchestet-victims/788445/29 "2017-06-08T19:45:27Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > You do understand the concept of hyperboly? And this is the Pit. I really dont wish any violence on their women. Morgenstern’s right. You said it. If you said something that you now realize was wrong, you need to admit you were wrong and apologize. The Saudi Arabian National Team didn’t participate in a moment of silence for terrorist victims. You wished for innocent people to become terrorist victims. Guess where you rank in comparison to those players? ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-arabian-national-team-refuses-to-participate-i-moment-of-silence-for-manchestet-victims/788445/30 "2017-06-08T21:56:10Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Quick question. > > If your wish comes true, and the families of these players are brutally murdered, will _you_ stand for a moment of silence in memory of them? I would be devastated. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-arabian-national-team-refuses-to-participate-i-moment-of-silence-for-manchestet-victims/788445/31 "2017-06-08T21:57:52Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > What the fuck is wrong with you? > > Seriously. > > Jesus. > > You, upon seeing a group of people being jerks, wished not that the jerks got hit by a bomb, but that their sisters and daughters should get hit by a bomb. > > Think about what you just did for second. Think about it. Obviously i dont really feel this way and should have posted a sarcasm free thread in GD. I apologize to all I offended. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-arabian-national-team-refuses-to-participate-i-moment-of-silence-for-manchestet-victims/788445/32 "2017-06-08T21:59:18Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Outrage over non-outrage. So meta! > Wrong question, if you’re going for a _tu quoque_. How many times did they decline to do so when asked? To be fair, two of the Manchester victims were Aussie so there is real reason for outrage. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-arabian-national-team-refuses-to-participate-i-moment-of-silence-for-manchestet-victims/788445/33 "2017-06-08T22:13:10Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > How many times have UK teams stood in a moment of silence for terror attacks in the ME? > [@Ramira](#): > > of course it is true I doubt that any British football team has made a moment of silence for 2003 etc. The match was in Australia and they were asked to “join” a moment of silence by the Australian football federation. And they apparently did stand quietly and the _Mirror_ seems to have made up about 99% of this “story” (as it does). ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-arabian-national-team-refuses-to-participate-i-moment-of-silence-for-manchestet-victims/788445/34 "2017-06-08T22:20:00Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > The match was in Australia and they were asked to “join” a moment of silence by the Australian football federation. > > And they apparently did stand quietly and the _Mirror_ seems to have made up about 99% of this “story” (as it does). You realize they posted video right? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-arabian-national-team-refuses-to-participate-i-moment-of-silence-for-manchestet-victims/788445/35 "2017-06-08T22:22:19Z")
Yes. It’s a video of the Saudi team standing quietly before the moment of silence actually begins. Perhaps they started screaming “fuck you, victims!” after the stadium announcer stopped talking, but I doubt it somehow. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-arabian-national-team-refuses-to-participate-i-moment-of-silence-for-manchestet-victims/788445/36 "2017-06-08T22:26:23Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > May I use that line, or is it copy written? I think the copyright on the phrase is probably expired. (It is a paraphrasing of the line from _As You Like It_ (3.2.3158), the exchange between Jacques and Orlando). Stranger ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-arabian-national-team-refuses-to-participate-i-moment-of-silence-for-manchestet-victims/788445/37 "2017-06-08T22:27:27Z")
Here is the original espn story that prompted this thread > **[Saudis decline minute's silence for London](https://www.espn.com/soccer/world-cup-qualifying-afc/story/3140583/saudi-arabia-decline-to-take-part-in-minutes-silence-for-london-attack)** > > Saudi Arabia declined to participate in a minute's silence to honor the victims of last weekend's London attack before their World Cup qualifier. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-arabian-national-team-refuses-to-participate-i-moment-of-silence-for-manchestet-victims/788445/38 "2017-06-08T22:29:01Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Yes. It’s a video of the Saudi team standing quietly before the moment of silence actually begins. Perhaps they started screaming “fuck you, victims!” after the stadium announcer stopped talking, but I doubt it somehow. There is a protocol for this sort of ceremony. They ignored it. Have you missed that point? ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-arabian-national-team-refuses-to-participate-i-moment-of-silence-for-manchestet-victims/788445/39 "2017-06-08T22:53:06Z")
While not lined up [everyone seemed silent](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_dKK4wYnZM&feature=youtu.be&t=18m25s). Did I miss something? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-arabian-national-team-refuses-to-participate-i-moment-of-silence-for-manchestet-victims/788445/40 "2017-06-08T23:00:30Z")
With election looming, perhaps someone thought a sharp dash of Muslim hate might be just the right touch. Not deep on British politics…is it the liberal/lefty faction there that exploits such sentiments? Or the other guys? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-arabian-national-team-refuses-to-participate-i-moment-of-silence-for-manchestet-victims/788445.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-arabian-national-team-refuses-to-participate-i-moment-of-silence-for-manchestet-victims/788445.md?page=3)