Saudi Arabia head coach Hervé Renard said that people who do not know Africa well “won’t understand” the incident that saw a towel stolen, stressing that the story has been taken out of its real context.
Renard spoke about the episode while continuing his work with the national team, explaining that such situations can happen in African environments and are not always meant in the way some outsiders may think.
“Those who don’t know Africa won’t understand the towel theft incident,” Renard said, pointing out that the reaction to it outside the continent was exaggerated.
He added that reading the moment through a European lens can lead to the wrong conclusions, insisting the matter should be viewed with a clearer understanding of local habits and the atmosphere around matches.
Renard’s comments came as he looked to close the file on the incident, underlining that his focus remains on Saudi Arabia’s preparations and upcoming challenges.
