Saudi Arabia apologises for 'indecent' images of women at WWE event

Government officials regret airing ad which featured scantily-clad female wrestlers

The Saudi Arabia government apologised to its citizens after indecent images appeared on big screens during a world wrestling event in the kingdom, Daily Mail reported.

A statement was released in this regard by the Saudi General Sports Authority on Twitter, which apologised for 'the scenes of indecent women that featured in an ad before one of the matches.'

Statement came a day after a promotional ad featuring female wrestlers aired at the World Wrestling Entertainment Co's Greatest Royal Rumble in Jeddah.

According to viewers who spoke to the media about the incident, the broadcast of the Greatest Royal Rumble was put on hold after images were played.

The authority said there were shots of women who were 'indecent' and it also said it will not show matches involving female wrestlers.

They added they 'would like to confirm [their] total disapproval of this, in the shadow of [our] commitment to eliminate anything that goes against the communities values'.

Raucous men in the audience cheered on the broadcast of the images during the transmission at the King Abdullah Sports City stadium.

Wrestling News reported that the video during which the indecent images aired was promoting WWE Network's upcoming dual-branded PPV 'Best of Both Worlds' show, and showed women in wrestling attire.

The incident has sparked debate in the kingdom, which is a conservative society gradually loosening restrictions on public entertainment. The Saudi government has signed a 10-year deal with WWE to produce events in the kingdom.

This article originally appeared in Daily Mail