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Awkward on-air moment as Khabib Nurmagomedov snubs CBS Sports host's handshake

During the 2025 Champions League final, Khabib Nurmagomedov respectfully declined a handshake from CBS Sports anchor Kate Scott, citing his Muslim faith's guidelines on physical contact with unrelated women. The incident sparked discussions about faith and respect, while Scott's professionalism in handling the situation was widely praised.
Awkward on-air moment as Khabib Nurmagomedov snubs CBS Sports host's handshake
Image Source: Getty Images
During the 2025 Champions League final, something unexpected happened on live TV. UFC superstar Khabib Nurmagomedov kindly declined a handshake from CBS Sports anchor Kate Scott, which was captured after Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) defeated Inter Milan 5-0. Khabib's decision was rooted in his Muslim faith, and both his team and Scott also pointed out that his lack of a handshake was different from celebrating with the PSG players after the match.

Khabib Nurmagomedov's respectful refusal sparks debate

In June 2025, the Champions League final took place at the Allianz Arena in Germany and PSG won 5-0 over Inter Milan. As usual, Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher, Micah Richards and host Kate Scott led the coverage of the game on CBS Sports.. After the match, Khabib Nurmagomedov and streamer IShowSpeed joined them on the field.
Khabib happily shook hands with the male hosts but gently declined Scott's handshake, placing his hand on his chest instead. This is because, as a devout Muslim, his faith does not allow touching unrelated women. Scott apologized on air and kept things friendly.
On X, some fans praised Khabib, with one saying, “Khabib stayed true to his beliefs, respect.”
Others thought he could have greeted Scott better, as one user noted, “He didn't even look at her at first.” The moment got people talking about faith and respect.

Kate Scott's professionalism shines through

Kate Scott stayed calm and professional despite the awkward moment, winning fans' hearts. She quickly said sorry on air and moved the talk back to PSG's big win, their first Champions League title. Khabib, a huge PSG fan, was thrilled to be there with his friend, UFC fighter Islam Makhachev. They even took pictures with PSG player Achraf Hakimi and the trophy. Also Read : UFC Fans get divided as new training video of middleweight fighter Khamzat Chimaev goes viral ahead of the title bout at UFC 319This wasn't the first time Khabib's faith shaped how he acts. In 2020, UFC fighter Cynthia Calvillo said Khabib doesn't train directly with women because of his beliefs, but he still shares tips kindly. Scott's smooth handling of the situation kept the show fun and focused on football. The Champions League final was a huge night for PSG, but Khabib's moment with Scott got everyone's attention. His faith as a Sunni Muslim guides him to avoid physical contact with women he's not related to, as noted by Muslim cultural sources.

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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