Rabat – He did not take well the defeat of his team. After being booed and insulted by Moroccan fans in Russia, Turki Al Sheikh received another hard blow: Russia crushed Saudi Arabia’s dream (5-0) in the first World Cup game, Thursday, June 15.
The councilor of the Royal Palace and president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation wanted to justify himself by recording a video in which he blamed the players and asked for the Saudi Prince Mohammed Ben Salman’s forgiveness.
“I’m sorry your highness. The players have dishonored us. I take full responsibility. I beg your pardon for this humiliation,” he said.
“They made me ashamed in front of the Prince … but we can’t do something about it, that’s what they’re worth, we gave them everything.”
“It’s the karma coming to bite him right on his face,” Moroccan fans gloated on social media as they shared his apologies, recalling his campaign for Morocco’s rival to host the 2026 World Cup.
It will be hard for Saudi Arabians to go back up the slope. In their second game in Group A, they will have to face Uruguay June 20, and Egypt June 25 with the sensational Mohamed Salah.
As for today’s games, Egypt and Morocco will open the feast for the African continent.
Egypt plays Uruguay at 12 noon (Moroccan time), whereas Morocco opens with Iran at 3 p.m. in the least intensive encounter of what has been called the “group of death.” Spain will then take on Portugal at 6 p.m., topping off the day with a much-awaited European clash.
