• Greene King supplied the decorations featuring the 32 national flags
• Saudi Arabia flag features the Arabic words from a sacred Islamic text
• Drinking alcohol is banned under Islam and Muslims said it is offensive
• World Cup will begin in Moscow on June 14 with Russia vs Saudi Arabia

Thousands of pub landlords have had to rip out Saudi Arabia flags from strings of World Cup bunting after complaints from offended Muslims.

Brewery giant Greene King supplied the decorations featuring the national flags of all 32 teams to celebrate the tournament, which starts on June 14.

But because the Saudi Arabia flag features the Arabic words from a sacred Islamic text – and drinking alcohol is banned under Islam – Muslims complained to the company that flying it outside pubs offended their religion.

The Air Balloon pub in Filton, Bristol. It is one of thousands of pubs which have removed the Saudi Arabia flag following complaints by Muslims that it is offensive

Greene King staff have now had to go through the bunting to cut out all the individual Saudi Arabia flags.

The nation’s green flag has large white Arabic writing above a white sword. 

The text, known as the shahada, is the Islamic statement of faith and reads: ‘There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger.’

The flags of six other Islamic nations which are competing in the World Cup – Iran, Egypt, Senegal, Morocco, Nigeria and Tunisia – remain in the bunting, as none of these features Islamic text.

The gap in the bunting at The Air Balloon pub in Filton, Bristol, where the Saudi Arabia flag once hung

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