Saudi footballers to face reprisal over World Cup opener rout: Official
A high-ranking Saudi sports official says some members of the Saudi Arabia men’s national football team will be grilled over their “dismal performance” during the team’s 2018 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup opener against Russia.
President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) Adel bin Mohammad Ezzat told state-run television network that goalkeeper Abdullah al-Mayouf, defender Omar Hawsawi and forward Mohammad al-Sahlawi must be held accountable for the Green’s dramatic 0-5 loss to Russia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Thursday.
He added that the fiasco does not represent Saudi Arabia’s preparation program for World Cup.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s Sports Minister Turki al-Sheikh has shouldered responsibility for the Green’s rout, describing Saudi Arabia footballers’ capabilities as limited.
“This result brought disgrace upon me. Our players had been provided with best equipment and facilities over the past three years, yet they could not demonstrate even five percent of what they had been trained during the 2018 World Cup Group A football match against Russia,” Sheikh commented.
During the official 2018 FIFA World Cup draw ceremony at Kremlin State Palace in the Russian capital city of Moscow on December 1 last year, the host nation, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Uruguay were put in Group A in the preliminary round of the tournament.
The Iran men's national football team, nicknamed Team Melli, has joined Portugal’s A Selecção, Spain’s La Furia Roja and Atlas Lions of Morocco.
France is drawn in Group C, and is pitted against Australia, Peru and Denmark.
Argentina, Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria are drawn in Group D.
Group E consists of Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia.
While the 2014 FIFA World Cup champion Germany, Mexico, Sweden and South Korea shape Group F, Belgium, Panama, Tunisia and England are in Group G.
Group H has Poland, Senegal, Colombia and Japan.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup will take place from June 14 to July 15. Russia will open the event against Saudi Arabia in a Group A fixture at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium.
A total of 64 matches will be played in 12 venues located in 11 cities.
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