Jordan has moved to defuse a crisis with Kuwait after fans at a match between the two countries shouted slogans glorifying Iraq’s late Saddam Hussain, who invaded the Gulf emirate in 1990.

The incident occurred in the Jordanian capital Amman on Thursday at an Asian qualifier for the football 2022 World Cup. The game ended in a scoreless draw.

Jordanian Prime Minister Omar Razzaz condemned the shouts, saying they were alien to Jordanian values.

“We drew on the pitch, but we lost because of the stadium stands,” Al Razzaz said in a tweet. “Our relations with Kuwait are stronger than any offensive, frivolous attempt,” he added.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Al Safadi, meanwhile, called his Kuwaiti counterpart Shaikh Sabah Al Khalid and reaffirmed his country’s rejection of any bid to offend Kuwait, according to Jordanian media. Jordanian authorities said they had arrested two persons suspected of involvement in the incident. “They are being investigated as a step to arrest others and take legal measures against them all,” a Jordanian security spokesman said.

The pro-Saddam slogans have sparked ire in Kuwait. Kuwaiti lawmaker Abdullah Al Kandari urged Jordanian authorities to put the offenders on trial. “Cold apology is not enough,” he said.


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