Amman, Jordan - 8th November 2015

1. 00.00 SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Ahmed Eid Al Harby, president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation

"Firstly I would like to say that the Saudi Federation did not refuse to play. The Federation sent a letter confirming its inability to play in Ramallah because of security concerns. The players were ready for all circumstances and I can't see any reason for any negative speculation. All the players were taking part in their teams matches in the national league. The last matches of the league were held last week. There are no reasons for concern. The players' morale is very high as you can see. Our performance in the match will be in line with our team ethic. Our team ethic is that whoever wears the Saudi team's colours should be ready to sacrifice himself for our sport, our people and supporters outside Saudi Arabia."

2. 00.54 Various of Palestine team training

Palestine and Saudi Arabia prepare for WC qualifier in Jordan

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

Palestine and Saudi Arabia prepared in the Jordanian capital, Amman, on Sunday (November 8) for Monday's World Cup qualifying match.

The teams played in Jeddah in June in the first of their two scheduled Asia zone World Cup qualifiers, with the Saudis winning 3-2.

That match was originally supposed to be played in Palestine, but Saudi Arabia had refused to travel to the Israeli-occupied West Bank, citing undefined "exceptional circumstances".

The return leg was then set for October 13, again in the West Bank, but Saudi Arabia on September 23 demanded that it be played at a neutral ground.

That demand was accepted by the FIFA World Cup organising committee, but the Palestinian federation refused to accept the decision, saying it set a "dangerous precedent."

However, last Thursday, Palestine's football association said it had reluctantly agreed to play the match - and another qualifier against Malaysia later in the week - in Jordan.