This is maddening. Talk about disrespect for the dead, as well as disrespect for a nation hosting a team.

In Australia today the team Football Federation Australia played a qualifying soccer match opposite the national Saudi Arabian team, and a moment of silence was held before the game to honor the victims of the London terror attacks. Two of the people killed were Australian.

The Australians stood solemnly. And the Saudi team? They wandered around the field. What the heck?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KDCSvVxR_E

Oh, but understand, Saudis don’t do that kind of thing. It’s not in their culture, you see. A spokesman from the FFA said this:

‘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. . . .’
‘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.’ (boldface mine)

Oh, really? Then maybe someone can explain this picture. Looks like a moment of silence to me.

So maybe this isn’t about a tradition, is it? Maybe it’s more about who were the victims, and who were the killers. . . er, martyrs.