Saudi Cleric Demands FIFA Ban Players From Making Sign Of The Cross

sign of the cross
SASCHA SCHUERMANN/AFP/Getty
Ali Waked

TEL AVIV – Muhammad Alarefe, a prominent Saudi religious leader, has demanded that FIFA, the international soccer governing body, instruct players to stop making the Christian sign of the cross.

Alarefe wrote on his Twitter account, “I’ve seen video clips of athletes, soccer players running, shooting and when they win they make the symbol of the cross on their chests and my question is if FIFA’s rules forbid this.”

Social media users were divided on the question, with some supporting Alarefe’s comment and others laughing and saying they wondered why he has taken no stance against Muslim soccer players who kneel to pray when they win or score a goal.

Sultan Alhusni wrote, “I can’t lie. Mohamed Salah (an Egyptian soccer player who plays in Europe) and others kneel to pray when they score a goal and no one punishes them. Leave the sport to those who deal with it.”

Sam, another social media user, wrote, “The cross is one of the symbols of the vehicles we travel in, so what’s the problem if it appears on the pitch, or is what’s allowed in one place forbidden in another? Weird.”

Fahd Alarawi wrote, “Great, Alarefe has become a sports commentator. When there’s free time, we get involved in things we don’t understand.”

Another social media user wrote, “Respected Sheikh, unfortunately their rules are only applied to Muslims and unfortunately no one protests that – on the contrary, the go quieter than the grave.”

Win Al Fahad wrote the sheikh that, “It’s like you’re now calling on FIFA to forbid Muslim players from bowing to Allah and raising their hands in prayer to the sky. FIFA prohibits the use of religion, politics and racism in sports.”

https://twitter.com/alowinfahad/status/860539843578929152

Ibrahim Alatwi responded to Al Fahad, saying, “And no one says a thing (to Muslim players who pray) so the Christians are allowed to mark the cross on their chests. FIFA doesn’t distinguish between one player and another.”

Abu Lil scolded the religious scholar, writing, “Get out of our sport that unites Christians, Sunni and Shia on one team with their hearts one on the other. Everyone should deal with his religion and let us be. May FIFA be blessed.”

https://twitter.com/M0503996767/status/860504933275234304

Another social media user, Capitano, responded to the sheikh with sarcasm, saying, “The ISIS regime forbids crossing oneself; when al-Baghdadi is elected president of FIFA, we’ll discuss the respected sheikh’s request.”

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