Riyadh: The Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (religious police) has urged the General Youth Welfare Presidency to issue strict directives to foreigners playing for football clubs in the Kingdom to cover tattoos on visible parts of their bodies.
"This would be a wrong message for Saudi youths who may imitate them," the commission said while specially mentioning the tattoo visible on the arm of the Colombian player Juan Paulo, who recently joined with Al Nasr Club.
The commission called upon non-Muslim players in the Kingdom to strictly adhere to the directive and cover tattoos on their arms.
In the directive sent to the undersecretary of the presidency, the commission drew attention to the fact that the media carried recently the photo of the Colombian player with a tattooed arm. It is noteworthy that the commission had intervened following a media outcry after noticing wearing of cross by a Romanian professional of Al Hilal Club last year.
Subsequently, Faisal Abdul Hadi, secretary general of Saudi Football Federation, sent a circular to all clubs asking them to advise their professionals and players to respect Saudi traditions and not show their religious symbols in a way disregarding Saudi customs and traditions.
