Pubs across Britain remove Saudi Arabia flags from World Cup bunting after offended Muslims complain that drinking is banned under Islam

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.

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.