VIDEO: Saudi footballer faces legal action for ‘dabbing’ during match

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – A professional footballer in Saudi Arabia is set to face an investigation and a possible drug test after he performed the popular “dab” dance move on the sidelines of a match.

Despite strict rules against the dance move, an unnamed member of Saudi football club Al Nojoom was filmed dabbing on the bench after his team scored a goal in their 2-0 victory against Al-Wehda in the King Cup of Champions Round of 32.

Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry’s National Committee for Combating Drugs, an initiative by the government to tackle drug abuse and addiction in the Kingdom, has banned the dance, warning “people about the dangers of this [move] on the youth and society.”

Footage of the dab, shared by Saudi sports broadcaster Dawrie Plus, which shows the player ignoring a high-five from a teammate in exchange for the dab went viral on social media.

“Dabbing has been the subject of controversy in Saudi Arabia and is strictly forbidden by the authorities because of its perceived link to drug use,” a report published by the BBC read.

ماقام به لاعب #النجوم من حركة "الداب" يعاقب عليها لجنة الانضباط بالاتحاد السعودي pic.twitter.com/qlJ7HeDVuh

— الكرة السعودية (@_ksa_football_) January 3, 2018

Many on social media condemned the player’s move as “stupid,” citing the Saudi government’s position on the matter, with some even tagging the General Directorate of Narcotics Control to address the issue.

Others said the entire matter was being blown out of proportion and a player should be allowed to celebrate or show happiness without complications.

Last year, musical artist Abdalla Al Shahani was arrested and faced legal action after a video of him dabbing on stage during a concert was posted online.

The dance move is believed to have originated in the hip-hop scene of Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States and has since become a global phenomenon with athletes and politicians filmed performing the move.