Reports in Italy claim Saudi fans at the Al Awwal Park Stadium in Riyadh booed during a minute’s silence hold to pay tribute to Italy legend Gigi Riva, as silence is not seen as a way to honour dead people in the Arab culture.
Italy fans watching the Supercoppa Final between Napoli and Inter on TV were outraged to hear boos from the crowd at the Al Awwal Park Stadium in Riyadh to honour Gigi Riva. The legendary Azzurri striker had died in Cagliari minutes before the game started, so Lega Serie A decided to honour him before the second half-kick-off.
However, as reported by several Italian papers, including Corriere della Sera, Lega Serie A later realised silence is not used in the Arab culture to honour a dead person, so this is why only Italian fans in the stands and players on the pitch paid tribute to the late ‘Rombo di Tuono.’
Gazzetta adds that the same had happened during a minute’s silence held for Franck Beckenbauer before a Spanish Super League semi-final between Atletico and Real Madrid only a few weeks earlier.
- Read more – Cannavaro in tears as Italy mourns Gigi Riva
So is booing a way to honor dead people? This article is confusing.
Unfortunately, it is the explaination they gave to be confusing.
You cannot serve Saudi petrodollars and Calcio.
For I say to you, one will boo and the other will stand in sikence.
This is not acceptable! even if they don’t have “silence” in their culture, they should still respect other cultures by at least remaining silent for a minute, especially when they’re hosting foreign teams, players, and fans!