Saudi Arabian football bosses have issued an "unreserved" apology after their players failed to properly observe a minute's silence in honour of London terror attack victims at last night's World Cup qualifier against the Socceroos in Adelaide.

When the stadium announcer called for a minute's silence to honour the victims of last weekend's attack, including Australian women Kirsty Boden and Sara Zelenak, the Socceroos on the field lined up at the centre circle with arms on their teammates' shoulders.

Their opponents from Saudi Arabia, however, spread out to various parts of the field in formation, with some players appearing to mill around.

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) said it "deeply regrets and unreservedly apologises for any offence caused" by the players' actions.

Saudi players spread out as the Socceroos stood shoulder to shoulder while the minute's silence was announced. ( Supplied )

"The players did not intend any disrespect to the memories of the victims or to cause upset to their families, friends or any individual affected by the atrocity," a statement read.

"The Saudi Arabian Football Federation condemns all acts of terrorism and extremism and extends its sincerest condolences to the families of all the victims and to the Government and people of the United Kingdom."

Politicians line up in condemnation

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said he expected the Saudi Arabian government would rebuke the team.

"I am sure the Saudi government themselves will be having a strong word to them," Mr Joyce said.

"When you are in another nation, you respect the issues that are important to them."

He said it was very bad form if the players "knew what they were doing".

"I am going to give them the benefit of the doubt and say that they did not know what they were doing," he added.

Victorian federal senator Derryn Hinch called the team's failure to line up for the moment's silence an insult.

South Australia's Kirsty Boden (left) and Sara Zelenak (right) were among those killed in London. ( Facebook )

"What they did last night should not be forgotten," Senator Hinch told Channel Seven.

"It is an insult. Saudi Arabia — that is where those terrorists came from.

"And you think now that Donald Trump has done a multi-billion-dollar arms deal with that country — it is a disgrace."

Australian Conservatives Senator Cory Bernardi called the Saudi team's actions "just disgraceful".

"The lack of respect shown by Saudi Football last night demonstrates why Western culture is superior to Islamic one," Senator Bernardi said on Twitter.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he had not seen the video but it had been raised with him.

"The whole world, the whole free world is united in condemnation of that terrorist attack and terrorism generally and in sympathy and love for the victims and their families," he said.



'There's no excuse here,' Albanese declares

Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese also teed off on the visiting players on morning television.

"That was a disgraceful lack of respect for not just the two Australians who were killed, one of whom was a young South Australian, but also all of those victims of that terror attack in London," Mr Albanese told Nine's The Today Show.

"There's no excuse here. This isn't about culture. This is about a lack of respect and I thought it was disgraceful."

Football Federation Australia (FFA) reportedly issued a statement saying the Saudi team had flagged that players would not stand together because to do so would be "not in keeping with Saudi culture".

"Both the (Asian Football Confederation) and the Saudi team agreed that the minute of silence could be held," the FFA said, according to reports.

"The FFA was further advised by Saudi team officials that this tradition was and they would move to their side of the field and respect our custom whilst taking their own positions on the field."

Typically, FIFA representatives meet with officials from both teams and the referee a day before a World Cup qualifier to discuss all game protocol issues, including plans for a minute's silence.

ABC/AAP