IT’S GONE TO PENALTIES Beaten side’s sinister threat
SAUDI Arabia’s players feared for their lives last night after being warned they must pay a “penalty” for their World Cup drubbing by Russia.
Football chiefs said the 5-0 defeat was “totally unsatisfactory” and the team would face the consequences when they return home.
Three players – goalkeeper Abdullah AlMayouf, striker Mohammad Al-Sahlawi and defender Omar Hawsawi – were singled out for criticism.
Saudi football federation chief Adel Ezzat did not specify what their punishment would be.
But the threat struck a chilling chord in a country which still has capital punishment.
The Saudis were branded one of the worst teams to ever play at the World Cup finals after their walloping.
Ezzat said the performance – in front of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and a TV audience of a billion – fell well short of expectations.
He added: “We are very disappointed. This result is totally unsatisfactory because it does not reflect the true level of our preparedness.
“Several players will face a penalty – goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Mayouf, striker Mohammad Al-Sahlawi and defender Omar Hawsawi.”
Saudi sports chief Turki bin Abdulmohsen AlSheikh described the game as a “total fiasco”. He said: “These players have made my face go black with embarrassment and fury. This is down to their weak potential and ability.”
In contrast, Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov got a phone call from President Putin congratulating him on his team’s performance.
Russia began the tournament ranked 70th in the world – the lowest of the 32 teams.
The Saudi players would not be the first to pay a sinister price for a bad performance.
In 1994 Colombia’s Andres Escobar, 27, was shot dead after his own goal against the US saw his country eliminated from the World Cup.
The Star Says: Page 6