It had been made clear what was going to happen before the game at the Adelaide Oval.
Football Federation Australia says Saudi Arabia's team management knew on Wednesday of the plans for the night, including a minute's silence for the London terror victims.
Saudi Arabia declined participation, but agreed a respectful observation should take place when signalled by this commentary at the opening of the game.
"We are going to pause just for a moment to remember the two young Australian women who so tragically lost their lives in the recent terror attacks in London ... We stop to remember all the lives lost, all those families and friends affected by this terrible tragedy. And most of all we reflect on the loss of two young women working and living in London, Kirsty Boden and Sara Zelanak."
The Socceroos stood in a single line in silence, as their opponents scattered to their game formation on the field.
Socceroos Defender Ryan McGowan says the Australian team were focused on remembering the victims.
"As a team we wanted to show our respects to the women who lost their lives and make sure that we did the right thing and what they did, you know, what they did we don't really have any control over that so we just wanted to make sure that we did it and we observed it properly."
Images shown during the silence concentrated on Australian players, on the pitch, its perimeters and the crowd in the stands.
The visiting players milled about in the background, most not acknowledging what was happening around them.
Professor Amin Saikal, a leading academic in Middle Eastern affairs at the Australian National University, says the Saudis showed a lack of awareness.
"Well I don't think it was a snub. It was just simply an ignorant approach on the part of the Saudi team and that is certainly not something that Islam endorses."
Australian politicians, however, took full notice of the Saudi team's actions.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull stopped short of directly criticising the players.
"Everyone should be united in condemnation of the terrorists and love and sympathy and respect for the victims and their familiies."
While Labor MP Anthony Albanese was swift to condemn the team's actions.
"That was a disgraceful lack of respect, not just for the two Australians that were killed, one of whom was a young South Australian, but also all of those victims of that terror attack in London."
The Saudi Football Federation has now issued an unreserved apology, a spokesman admitted some of its players may have caused offence, saying:
"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."
Professor Saikal has urged acceptance of the apology, to allow the issue to be put to rest.
"Because otherwise that whole issue can really blow out of proportion and I think it has already blown out of proportion in international media."
The Socceroos went on to defeat Saudi Arabia 3-2.
