Saudi Arabia: Swiss soccer ref stands by his 'crusader' whistle

AKI ^ | 2 April 2008 | Staff

[forkinsocket]

Riyadh, 2 April (AKI) - Swiss football referee Massimo Busacca vowed he would wear a whistle with the Swiss Cross symbol on it during of the Saudi championship on Wednesday, despite anger voiced in the Kingdom at the 'crusader' item.

"I have respect for all religions, including Islam, but I don't see anything offensive in this and am optimistic. I will not give up my 'crusader' whistle," he told pan-Arab daily Al-Sharq al-Awsat.

Many in Saudi Arabia had called for Busacca to sport a different whistle to avoid offending Muslims. He has previously refereed several soccer matches in the Kingdom.

The Swiss Cross is Switzerland's national flag and also forms the world famous Swiss army knife logo.

But Muslims associate the Christian symbol with the bloody medieval crusades to conquer Jerusalem and the Holy Land.

[forkinsocket]

.

[Soothesayer]

The only way to not offend Muslims is to be Muslim or dead.

[SF Republican]

But Muslims associate the Christian symbol with the bloody medieval crusades to conquer Jerusalem and the Holy Land. - GOOD

[capt. norm]

Oh gosh! The Islamists don't believe in nor do they practice diversity.

Don't hold your breath waiting for the liberals to recognize that fact.

* They are just now, slowly figuring out what damage the Clintons did to their party over the years.

[OeOeO]

to avoid offending Muslims

Impossible

And what about bloody medieval CRESSADES to conquer Jerusalem and the Holy Land

[kromike]

You know, if you googled the term "avoid offending Muslims", you'd probably melt their entire server farm retrieving all the articles over the last 8 years.

Geez, whatta crybaby wannabe-religion.

[Kakaze]

Well Saudi Arabia is a fitting place to just finally tell them to ...

POUND SAND!!!

[Freedom Dignity n Honor]

True except even then they'd find something to be offended about...eg. sunni vs. shia.

And I take exception with some wording in the article...

"But Muslims associate the Christian symbol with the bloody medieval crusades to conquer Jerusalem and the Holy Land."

It was our's first! Christians were trying to reconquer the Holy Land from the infidel Muslims whom have no legitimate claim on the our Holy Lands. Mohammed was never there and his "dream" referred to a different church/city in Arabia.

The muslims think that anything that anyone else has is their's or should be their's just like a bunch of selfish toddlers.

[kalee]

And neither of those are a guarantee.

[PLMerite]

“...bloody medieval crusades to conquer Jerusalem and the Holy Land.”

You mean “reconquer” them from the Muslims. They always forget to mention that they were Jewish and/or Christian Holy Lands first.

[CdMGuy]

Just another reason why I have no use or respect for this so-called religion - a cult founded by a mass murderer whose purpose in doing so was to use it as a tool to force conquered people into submission.

[Celerity]

He’ll be killed soon. Beheaded, if I had to guess.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

He should point out that this cross is the symbol of his nation, not of crusaders, and that he does not find the crescent of Saudi Arabia to be offensive, nor does he think of the Saudis as Turks.

Ooo. That would leave a mark.

[tarator]

Amazing! People with scimitars as their national symbols:


are offended by this:

[HungryRahul]

“The only way to not offend Muslims is to be Muslim or dead.”

or with second class citizenship and be criticized/ have your life threatened for your entire existence.

[B-Chan]

[G8 Diplomat]

Many in Saudi Arabia had called for Busacca to sport a different whistle to avoid offending Muslims.

Memo to Saudi Arabia: When you stop offending Christians and other infidels by killing them, exporting terrorism and mosque-building projects, and not allowing them to worship in your kingdom, THEN we'll talk.

[G8 Diplomat]

LOL. Exactly.

[Freedom Dignity n Honor]

"Memo to Saudi Arabia: When you stop offending Christians and other infidels by killing them, exporting terrorism and mosque-building projects, and not allowing them to worship in your kingdom, THEN we'll talk."

Heck, they don't even want us practicing our religions in our own countries.