Lone Saudi Arabian player honors moment of silence for London terrorist victims before match against Australia

In what can only be described as a disgraceful display of disrespect and lack of decency or compassion for human lives, only a single Saudi Arabian soccer player chose to stand still and pay respect to the victims of the London terrorist attack during a moment of silence while the rest of his team continued to warm up, kick around the ball and even tie their shoes before a World Cup qualifying match against the Australian team this week.

As a full stadium looked on, only Salman Al-Faraj politely held his hands behind his back and stared at the ground during the sixty second tribute before the match as his Saudi teammates ignored the gesture and walked off to their positions on the pitch like it was nothing but a big delay.

That's one out of 11 for all you keeping score at home or Homeland.

The Saudi Arabian team became the target of worldwide outrage for snubbing the minute of silence, with officials claiming it was "not in keeping with Saudi culture."

Saudi Arabia's Soccer Team REFUSE To Line Up For Minute's Silence VIDEO: https://t.co/prbgs75bdI via @YouTube

— INFO Consapevole (@InfoConsapevole) June 9, 2017

Video shows the Australian team lined up at the halfway mark, with the Saudi players ignoring the respectful moment as they get in formation to start the game — all except the 27-year-old midfielder Al-Faraj.

Footage seems to show Saudi captain Osama Hawsawi instructing his teammates to pay their respect and stand still only after sensing the crowd's reaction.

It was reported that Saudi Arabian fans watching at the Adelaide Oval also ignored the moment of silence, speaking loudly and moving around in the stadium.

After widespread outrage, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation issued a statement saying it "deeply regrets and unreservedly apologizes for any offense caused." 

"The players did not intend any disrespect to the memories of the victims or to cause upset to their families, friends or any individual affected by the atrocity," it stated.

"The Saudi Arabian Football Federation condemns all acts of terrorism and extremism and extends its sincerest condolences to the families of all the victims and to the Government and people of the United Kingdom."

Later, the same Saudi players still found time to kneel and pray after a goal.

U.S. Women's World Cup team told to quit whining and just play

It seems like all of the non-stop drama and excuses surrounding the U.S. Women's National Team is wearing thin in Canada. As the Americans get set to face China in a World Cup match on Friday night, those connected to the tournament are gritting their teeth every time Team USA opens its mouth.

Organizers and analysts are reportedly growing tired of the U.S. complaints about the artificial turf, conspiracy theories regarding referees, and the Americans' long list of alibis for their overall lackluster play. Not to mention the Hope Solo situation.

"It is just getting tiresome around this U.S. team at the moment," Kristian Jack, soccer analyst for Canada's tournament broadcaster, TSN, told USA TODAY Sports. "There's far too many stories around this team. We've had the turf, we've had Hope Solo, we've had [Abby] Wambach moaning that she can't score a goal because it wasn't on grass. They are not playing that well. That should be the story."

Even Alexi Lalas, the former men's national team star and Fox analyst, is getting tired of the women's complaints.

"There is no conspiracy theory against you or the U.S. team," he said in a telecast while talking to Team USA. "As a matter of fact, stop trying to make the U.S. into this poor little U.S. team that everybody is against — the downtrodden United States women's soccer team.

"You are a superpower, you are one of the best teams, if not the best team in the world. Act as such."

Not surprisingly, all of this whining has much the rest of the world rooting against the Americans.

"Boy, the American team sure talks a lot," Gilles Blondeau, a member of an Ottawa fans group, told USA TODAY. "You don't hear Canada talking like that. ... People up here don't appreciate that kind of thing too much. You're winning. Stop complaining."

While we're at it, can they get the rah-rah American TV announcers to stop turning every call against the U.S. into Watergate.

Rugby player could face World Cup ban for stomping on opponent's head (VIDEO)

Yoann Huget could face a possible World Cup ban after footage emerged of the Toulouse winger stomping on the head of an opponent during a Top 14 clash.

A video shows Huget smashing his cleats into the face of Bordeaux Begles lock Andre Marais in the 18th minute of last Saturday’s game.

There have been no sanctions for the France international so far, but that will probably change as footage of the intentional facial goes viral.

Huget has made 38 appearances for France an his coaches will be worried that he could face a suspension for some or all of the upcoming competition this November.

The 27-year-old is no stranger to controversy, in 2011 the winger was expelled from France’s World Cup squad for not observing anti-doping rules.

Tiger Woods surprises Lindsey Vonn at finish line with missing tooth (PHOTO)

Tiger Woods was sporting a toothy smile when he surprised Lindsey Vonn following her winning run in Cortina D'Ampezzo — a record-breaking 63rd World Cup victory on Sunday.

Too bad that full set of choppers belonged to a skeleton-covered scarf he was wearing during the competition and his own set of pearly whites was short a tooth.

After Vonn's winning run, Woods, who was supposed to be practicing for his return to competition at the Phoenix Open, surprised Vonn by showing up at the finish area and revealing a noticeable gap in his mouth when he removed the spooky-looking scarf.

Vonn, who had no idea that the world's former No. 1 golfer was coming to Northern Italy, shared an emotional embrace with a harder looking Woods after he forced his way through the crowd unnoticed.

"No way!' Vonn exclaimed when she spotted him.

Earlier photographs show that Woods' tooth was discolored, raising the possibility that he is having it replaced.

Vonn tied the record of 62 victories when she won a downhill here Sunday.

"I'm so happy to have finished the weekend with win No. 63. My family and Tiger is here. It's a really, really special day," she said.

Woods' reps had no comment about the missing Tiger's tooth.

Tim Howard wants to play for the Knicks (PHOTO)

U.S. World Cup goaltender Tim Howard wants to take his game from the pitch to the court and if you believe the international soccer star, he's ready to help the Knicks.

Howard wore a Knicks jersey and offered his athletic skills to the team via Twitter as Phil Jackson tries to rebuild the team with re-signed Carmelo Anthony and new coach Derek Fisher.

And if any team could use some serious D, it's the Madison Square Garden boys.

#TBT Knicks got any cap space left? pic.twitter.com/PV486UA9gQ
— tim howard (@TimHowardGK) July 17, 2014

And it's not just a hoops dream.

Howard was a standout New Jersey high school basketball player and has a sort of six degrees of separation connection to NBA experience. 

The soccer star used to match up against Jay Williams, a blue-chipper for a rival high school before he went on to play at Duke and in the NBA. 

Although, someone might have to remind Howard that goaltending in his new sport isn't allowed.

Germany printed 5 million victory stamps before World Cup final even started (PHOTO)

Germany printed five million stamps commemorating their fourth World Cup title before the final against Argentina even started on Sunday.

The 60-cent stamps are due to go on sale this week after the first commemorative copies are offered to the players and staff.

While this bold decision ended up being a supreme example of German confidence (vertrauen), it could have been a regrettable embarrassment (peinlich) for the Deutsche Post. 

If Germany had lost the final, the stamps would have had to be pulped.

The stamps were ordered by Germany's Finance Ministry, which holds 21 per cent of Deutsche Post's shares through the state-owned KfW bank.

"This year I dared to hope very early on that our team would take the title," Finance Minister Wolfgang Scaeuble told AFP after understandably sweating out the extended play victory.

"It's wonderful that the team turned this dream into a reality. I hope that this stamp will remind many citizens of the immense joy the team has given us."

Netherlands player has head stapled during World Cup match with Brazil (VIDEO)

Who said third place doesn't count?

Just before halftime of Saturday’s consolation game against Brazil, the Netherlands' Dirk Kuyt suffered a nasty gash to his head that sent a stream of blood spilling down his neck. Even though the Dutch were leading 2-0 on two early goals, Kuyt was determined to finish out what would be his final international match, as was announced prior to the World Cup.

Dirk Kuyt is a hard man: After a nasty cut, he got his head stapled on the pitch. Ouch! http://t.co/8A6e8omFlV pic.twitter.com/vXQcruqlGm
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) July 12, 2014

To stop the bleeding, the Dutch utility player went to the sideline, got on his knees and let the medical staff apply staples to his head, without any medication. Kuyt returned for the second half to help the Netherlands close out its 3-0 win against Brazil and clinch the bronze.

Belgian World Cup beauty loses modeling gig for posting hunting photo: Report

It looks like the 17-year-old Belgian World Cup soccer fan who signed a modeling contract with cosmetics giant L'Oreal — after she was spotted in a crowd shot at the Group H match against Russia — will have her contract terminated because it emerged that the fresh-faced beauty is a fan of big game hunting.

Just days after a Texas Tech cheerleader came under fire for posting Facebook photos of herself posing with big game kills, Axelle Despiegelaere will no longer be starring in an L'Oreal social media campaign she was contracted to star in because she shared photos of herself with a rifle and a dead Gemsbok antelope during an African safari.

Despiegelaere caught the world's attention after being photographed cheering on her national team and the image of her holding pom-poms in a horned hat was widely shared online. 

As a result of her comely World Cup photographs going viral, Despiegelaere landed a contract to star in the L’Oréal Professionnel Belgique campaign, including a 'hair tutorial' video.

But within days of the announcement, in a case of one posted photo too many, it emerged that the teenager is a fan of big game hunting when her Facebook page showed a smiling Axelle posing in a snapshot holding a rifle over the dead antelope.

L'Oreal has confirmed that the modeling contract it awarded Derspiegelaere — as a result of her random discovery — has already been cancelled after the photo emerged of her posing with the dead animal.

The image was reportedly accompanied with the caption: "Hunting is not a matter of life or death. It's much more important than that."

Now L'Oreal — which publicly promotes animal welfare and stresses that they "no longer do tests on animals, anywhere in the world, and does not delegate this task to others" — had second thoughts about working with the beautiful huntress.

Speaking to The Independent, the cosmetics company said: "L’Oréal Professional Belgium collaborated with her on an ad hoc basis to produce a video for social media use in Belgium."

"The contract has now been completed," said a spokesperson.

The spokesperson added that, although the company was aware of the photograph, it would not comment on what led to the decision to cut ties with Despiegelaere.

After returning home to Belgium, Despiegelaere set up a professional Facebook page which now has over 200,000 "likes."

And Axelle was such a good model name.

Argentina goalie kept crib notes on opponents in shorts before penalty kicks (VIDEO)

Argentina's win over the Netherlands Wednesday night in Sao Paulo apparently didn't just come down to the luck of the spot-kick. Goalkeeper Sergio Romero was reportedly able to guess correctly for two of Holland's penalty kicks in the 4-2 shootout win after suspiciously pulling out what looked like crib notes from his shorts before each of his opponent's kicks.

The pieces of paper Romero pulled from his own nether regions between each penalty kick reportedly had data on his opponent's scoring tendencies and helped the goalkeep make saves against Holland's Aston Villa's Ron Vlaar and Wesley Sneijder for the victory, according to the Daily Mail. 

The 27-year-old put the notes back down his shorts as he prepared to guess the correct direction of his opponent's kicks in each showdown. 

Romero's helpful cheat sheet paid off and put Argentina into their first World Cup final in 24 years with a 4-2 shootout win. 

Argentina scored all four penalties to earn a place in the World Cup final against Germany in the Maracana Stadium on Sunday.

And Romero didn't even have to study.

Brazilian dancer wears a Panini Prizm sticker bikini for World Cup (VIDEO)

A dancer on Brazilian TV covers her bottom, lower back and thighs with a selection of 2014 Panini Prizm World Cup Soccer stickers.

Like baseball trading cards, these collectibles are being snapped up all over the world by kids and adults alike — and has set off frantic searches for select cards and autographs.

The set has 200 cards with a roster of just about every international soccer star from all 32 countries in the tournament 

Speaking of sets, you wouldn't expect anything less from the land of bum-bums on this TV show.

A tip of the hat to ryanjaybailey.

Soccer fans may be bringing back contagious virus from World Cup: Report

Soccer fans who went to Brazil for the World Cup may bring back more than just memories of goals and bum-bums when they get back — namely Chikungunya.

And no, it's not the latest dance craze. 

A U.S. Senator is warning Americans about the possibility that unsuspecting fans visiting Brazil could bring Chikungunya — a contagious mosquito-borne virus — back to the United States.

Sen. Charles Schumer is urging the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue an immediate health alert to doctors in New York and around the country, fearing that soccer fans returning from some of the South American country's most remote regions could be infected with Chikungunya or Chik-V as it is also known, according to CBS.

“Visitors could return home to their countries with memorabilia, photographs, great stories to tell and perhaps a very painful virus,” Schumer said at a press conference Sunday, while holding up a picture of a mosquito.

“The World Cup will serve as an incubator for this virus to spread.”

The Chik-V mosquito, known to carry the disease, is prevalent in Brazil and the virus is also widespread in the Caribbean. It's likely only a matter of time before it is found in mosquitoes in the United States, possibly as early as this summer, according to the CDC.

The painful disease is rarely fatal, but can cause severe fevers, arthritic-like joint pain and swelling, headaches and rashes, Schumer said, adding that there have been three confirmed cases of Chik-V in New York.

“I feel that cases of the virus will rise in in New York as well as elsewhere,” he said.

In addition to alerting and educating doctors, The Senator called on the Department of Homeland Security to issue a “public emergency” that would mean increased inspections at U.S. ports of entry and additional scans of imported food products for travelers coming from Brazil.

Lolo Jones' Instagram post sums up America's reaction to World Cup tie (PHOTO)

Fans across America were ready celebrate a historic win for the U.S. men's national team until the unimaginable occurred.  With only seconds remaining in injury time, and the United States leading, 2-1, Portugal scored.

U.S. track and field star Lolo Jones was only one of the millions of fans whose heart was broken with that goal and wanted to show what might be called a bi-polar range of emotions looks like.

Jones  — decked out in red-white and blue pants— let her Instagram post sum up the dramatic swing of emotions that swept across the U.S. with the caption: "I went from this TO this... in 30 seconds.

And you gotta love the fanny pack action.

Germany star Muller hits diner in face with missed shot (VIDEO)

Thomas Muller may be the co-leading scorer at the 2014 World Cup, but he was completely off target during a German team training session — as one man eating lunch found out the hard way.

The star forward scored a hat-trick in Germany's opening 4-0 rout of Portugal, however, during a practice session with Bastian Schweinsteiger, Muller managed to chip the ball over a miniature goal and into the team's meal area where it hit an unsuspecting diner squarely in the face.

Muller apologized for the facial, but I don't think anyone will be saying: "I'll have what he had" at that table any time soon.

Mexico coach defends gay slur chant by fans at the World Cup: Report

Mexico World Cup coach Miguel Herrera has said his team supports the fans' chanting of 'puto' during the World Cup matches in Brazil. The term has many derogatory meanings, including being used as a gay slur.

The New York Daily News reported:

Herrera says Mexico fans shouting the slur as the rival team's goalkeeper takes a goal kick is ''not that bad.'' He says ''We're with our fans. It's something they do to pressure the opposing goalkeeper.''

Fare, the European fan-monitoring group, first reported the chants at Mexico’s 1-0 win over Cameroon in Natal. FIFA subsequently opened a disciplinary case against the Mexico federation, which is responsible for fan behavior inside stadiums.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter and Brazil President Dilma Rousseff have pledged to use the World Cup as a platform to fight racism and discrimination.

Although a debate has raged over whether the fans are indeed yelling a gay slur, some defend the chant as the word's other perceived, and less offensive, non-gay meaning — whore.

Either way, Univision has muted the chant in broadcasts in the past, and ESPN said it will likely do the same in Mexico's final group game in Brazil. FIFA is looking into the matter as well and has opened a case against Mexico.

Cristiano Ronaldo's future jeopardized by World Cup play claims doctor: Report

Cristiano Ronaldo limped out of a Portugal training session 30 minutes early Wednesday with ice strapped to his left knee.

The Portuguese captain and holder of the Ballon D'Or, was expected to lead his team at this World Cup but, after playing an ineffective 90 minutes in Portugal's  4-0 loss to Germany on Monday, the soccer superstar was warned by his doctor that he risks threatening his career by playing on at the World Cup, reported the Daily Mail.

The Real Madrid superstar is struggling with a knee injury but is under pressure to lead his team into Sunday’s crucial clash with the USA after the embarrassing loss to Germany.

According to Spanish online newspaper El Confidencial, Portuguese surgeon Jose Carlos Noronha told the 29-year-old: 

"Let your knee rest, or your future is in danger," to which Ronaldo reportedly replied: "I’m the one that says whether I’m playing or not."

There had been serious doubts over the Real Madrid superstar's injuries ahead of the tournament, after a thigh problem and tendinitis in his knee forced him to miss training and two warm-up matches.

Ronaldo declared himself "100 per cent" fit on the eve of Portugal's opening defeat to Germany but, although he managed to play the entire game, he was mostly on the periphery and failed to make an impact.

It now appears that the Player of the Year has suffered a recurrence of his knee problems after receiving treatment during a training session in Campinas. 

Ronaldo was taken through a series of stretches before having his left knee bandaged with an ice pack and helped off the field a half hour before Wednesday's practice finished. He watched the rest of the session from the sidelines.

Portugal will face the USA on Sunday in a must win game in Group G. Until then, Portugal fans will have to wait for Ronaldo's decision for a single game — and maybe his career.

This dog loves watching the World Cup more than anyone (VIDEO)

Meet Georges — a soccer-mad dog who is more than happy to spend hours in front of the TV watching the World Cup.

In a video posted on YouTube, the tail-wagging pooch can been seen enthusiastically jumping up and down in front of the TV while watching the Argentina-Bosnia and Herzegovina pool game from his owner's home in the U.S..

"Georges, my dog who loves watching sports, is having a great time watching the World Cup 2014," writes YouTuber Bearaids. "He will watch the games for hours and doesn't care who wins or loses, as long as he can watch them play."

The same can't be said for his little pal at the end.

Jihadists tweet image of decapitated head with sick World Cup reference (GRAPHIC PHOTOS)

Jihadists — carrying out summary executions on Iraqi soldiers and civilians alike — mixed their blood-thirsty march through Iraq with Twitter and posted a sickening reference to the ongoing World Cup.

As shocking images of the ISIS insurgency continue to be released, the Islamist group are using social media to post barbaric videos online with the intent of showing the world they will stop at nothing to achieve their end game — including tweeting the graphic photo of a police officer's decapitated head with the perverse message:  'This is our ball. It is made of skin #WorldCup."

The post has since been deleted.

In one, which is too graphic to publish, ISIS fighters are seen knocking on the door of the Sunni police major in the dead of night. 

When he answers, they blindfold and cuff him. Then they carve off his head with a knife in his own bedroom as sweetly lilting religious hymns are played over the top.

Although this figure has not been verified, the UN today warned that hundreds of people are likely to have been killed by the fanatics since the uprising.

On Friday, President Barack Obama ruled out sending troops back into combat in Iraq but promised to review military options — including air strikes.

ISIS also claims to have executed 1,700 Shia soldiers on their push for the capital city of Baghdad.

Hopefully, people will turn away long enough from the scoreboard and see what's going on over there.

CNN reporter injured by tear gas canister during live coverage of World Cup protests (VIDEO)

The World Cup got off to a riotous start after Brazilian police fired tear gas into a small group of people trying to work its way through Sao Paulo to the Arena Corinthians stadium to protest the opening game.

At least one person was arrested and CNN reporter Shasta Darlington and producer Barbara Arvanitidis were slightly injured when one of the gas canisters hit them. Darlington suffered a minor cut on her arm, and Arvanitidis was hit on the wrist.

A CNN video of the incident shows Darlington in a green blouse and a backpack talking about a skirmish that broke out during a protest before the first World Cup game, which resulted in one arrest. 

Moments later, she is shoved to the side by a demonstrator as police officers in riot gear begin hurling tear gas canisters into the crowd.

"Gotta go!" she cries out before adding, "It hit my arm."

Critics are furious at the Brazilian government for spending $11 billion on the World Cup instead of low-income housing, hospitals and schools.

Thank you to @WyreDavies and cordon of protesters who helped our @Arvanb01 after we were hit by canister at protest #CNNWorldCup
— Shasta Darlington (@ShastaCNN) June 12, 2014

Ghanaian witch doctor says his curse injured Ronaldo ahead of World Cup: Report

Cristiano Ronaldo already has tough road ahead in the World Cup's creepy-sounding "Group of Death," but what happens when someone throws some evil spirits into the mix.

An injury, that's what.

And Ghana’s top witch doctor is taking credit for the the sudden limp after claiming he put a curse on the soccer star.

Nana Kwaku Bonsam predicted Ronaldo would miss the World Cup shortly after his country was drawn with Portugal in Group G, along with Germany and the United States because he would get an "incurable injury" as a result of his black magic.

Ronaldo was due to line up against Ghana for Portugal during the group stages of the World Cup, but reports emerged this week that he could miss the whole competition, because of an injury he sustained during training.

"I know what Cristiano Ronaldo’s injury is about, I’m working on him," said Bonsam.

The Real Madrid superstar was recently diagnosed with tendinitis in his left knee as well as a left thigh strain.

"I am very serious about it," claims Bonsam. "Last week, I went around looking for four dogs and I got them to be used in manufacturing a special spirit called Kahwiri Kapam.

"I said it four months ago that I will work on Cristiano Ronaldo seriously and rule him out of the World Cup or at least prevent him from playing against Ghana.

"This injury can never be cured by any medic, they can never see what is causing the injury because it is spiritual."

But before U.S. fans thank Bonsam for possibly helping their team avoid the World Cup's most dangerous player, he's only guaranteeing a Ronaldo-less Portugual in its June 21 clash with the Black Stars.

"I will work on Cristiano Ronaldo seriously and rule him out of the World Cup or at least prevent him from playing against Ghana."

So Team USA,  get out your own chicken feet and blood.

Argentinian gangs planning ambush on England's hooligans during World Cup: Report

You might want to file this under the What Goes Around Comes Around or the You Asked For It sports category. 

Police are warning English soccer hooligans headed to the World Cup in Brazil that Argentinian thugs are planning to ambush and attack them after they arrive. 

More than 650 violent "ultras" are believed to be travelling to the tournament in Brazil from nearby Argentina to face off with the notorious English ruffians.

Hundreds of the reported instigators are heading to Belo Horizonte, where Argentina will be based and where both sides play group games just days apart later this month, according to the Daily Mail.

Police in the city suggested that members of the notorious Argentinian Barra Brava groups have made alliances with equally violent Brazilian ultras —  and are preparing attacks on rival England fans.

One Brazilian ultra group, Mafia Azul, have reportedly rented a ranch on the outskirts of the city in southeast Brazil to accommodate dozens of Barras Bravas linked to Argentinian club San Lorenzo.

The Mafia Azul group, linked to Belo Horizonte side and current league leaders Cruzeiro, were banned from stadiums in Brazil earlier this year after violent confrontations with rival fans which left several people dead.

Military police chief Col Divino Brito told Brazil's Estado de Minas newspaper he believes the Argentinian and Brazilian soccer gangs are preparing to team up to attack English fans while they are in town.

"Our worry is that in the interval between one match and another, when we are going to have thousands of fans from Argentina and then from England, there are going to be clashes," he said. "We will deal forcefully with any foreigner who comes here wanting to commit violence and vandalism."

But Col Alberto Luiz Alves admitted: 'We can normally monitor groups with a history of violence.

"But we would only know of dangerous fans if they enter by air," claims Col Alberto Alves. "And in the case of the Argentinian Barra Bravas most will be arriving by land. It will be very difficult to keep track of them."

At least 11,000 Argentinian fans have bought tickets to see their side play Iran on June 21 in Belo Horizonte.

This sort of threat usually goes unheeded, but let's hope no innocent fans find themselves in a mix.