Saudi Arabia deny plans to punish players

■

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation has refuted reports about possible reprimands which may await certain members of the kingdoms national football team after the defeat at the Fifa World Cup here.

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation has refuted reports about the kingdom’s Minister of Sports Turki Al Shaikh singling out certain players for alleged disciplinary action, stating that such an act would have humiliated some footballers in front of the others, and that the defeat displayed the skill level of the entire team, reports Sputnik news agency.

The federation officials also commended the minister’s stance and his willingness to accept responsibility for the loss.

Earlier, Al Shaikh reportedly said that the Saudi national football team’s forward Mohammad Al Sahlawi, defender Osama Hawsawi and goalkeeper Abdullah Al Mayouf will be reprimanded over the loss during the opening match of the Fifa World Cup.

Commenting on the team’s crushing defeat, Turki Al Shaikh said he accepts full responsibility for the footballers’ less-thanstellar performance.

The minister lamented that despite all the money and effort invested in the team, the Saudi footballers displayed but a fraction of their abilities during the June 14 game.

“We did everything we could for the team’s players: we have covered their expenses for three years, we hired the best coaching team and a world-class coach … This is the reality that we must accept, these are their abilities and capabilities,” Al Shaikh said on his Twitter account.

We did everything we could for the team’s players ... This is the reality that we must accept, these are their abilities and capabilities.” Turki Al Shaikh » Saudi Minister of Sports