Saudi cleric: forbid Sign of the Cross in soccer competition

May 15, 2017

A Saudi Arabian cleric has called upon the organizers of international soccer competition to bar players from making the Sign of the Cross.

Mohammend Alarefe, an Islamic leader whose Twitter account reaches more than 17 million followers, objected to the fact that many soccer players bless themselves in celebration after scoring a goal.

The prevalence of religious symbols in international soccer competition has become a point of dispute in Islamic countries. This year a leading Spaniard team, Real Madrid, agreed to remove the cross from team merchandise sold in the Middle East.

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• Saudi cleric calls on FIFA to ban sign of cross, Twitter fires back immediately (RT)

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• Posted by: nix898049 - May. 16, 2017 6:37 PM ET USA

  Maybe he'd like it better if the team just got together on the field before a game and recited the Creed. I do think they should raise the ante on this foolishness. Definitely should not back down.