Neymar’s cross of Jesus causes controversy in Saudi Arabia

This situation has sparked an outcry on social media, with voices denouncing this gesture as "potentially offensive to the cradle of Islam." However, a large number of Saudis believe that the indignation is exaggerated and accuse some of being jealous and intolerant.

The Moroccan Islamist, Abdellah Nhari, recalled the sacredness of the "Arabian Peninsula" by citing a hadith and a verse from the Quran. According to him, the presence of the pendant on this sacred land represents an attempt to divert the region from its religious purpose. For his part, the Algerian Moussa Azzouni criticized Neymar, describing him as a bad example for Muslim youth, while Muhannad Al-Obaydi, a London-based writer, suggested that Neymar’s gesture was intentional.

On social media, these criticisms have been widely mocked, with some considering that these reactions were simply fueled by jealousy and intolerance. Yasser Al-Qahtani, former captain of the Saudi national team, stated that the Kingdom’s progress in the sports field is disturbing some individuals, pushing them to sow discord through controversial publications.