UPDATED 2X: Muslim NFL player penalized for praying after touchdown

[DonViejo]

Last edited Tue Sep 30, 2014, 10:30 AM - Edit history (1)

A Muslim football player was penalized during Monday night’s nationally-televised game for praying after scoring a touchdown, SB Nation reported.

Officials cited Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Husain Abdullah for “unsportsmanlike conduct” for dropping to the ground and kneeling after scoring a touchdown against New England, as seen below:



According to SB Nation, Abdullah practices the traditional Muslim fast during Ramadan, even though it coincides with training camp, and missed the 2012 season so that he could take part in the Hajj to Mecca with his brother Hamza Abdullah, a former NFL player.

However, SB Nation noted that Christian players, like former Denver and New York quarterback Tim Tebow, are never penalized for gestures of worship during games, like Tebow’s habit of kneeling, which became known as “Tebowing.”

-snip-

Full article
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/09/muslim-nfl-player-penalized-for-praying-after-touchdown/

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UPDATE 1

Penalty on Chiefs player ignites social media

DAVE SKRETTA, ASSOCIATED PRESS

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Husain Abdullah knew before he even reached the end zone Monday night that he would drop to his knees in thankful prayer after intercepting Tom Brady in the fourth quarter of the Kansas City Chiefs’ 41-14 victory over New England.

He had no idea he would be penalized for it.

But after sliding to the grass in the end zone at Arrowhead Stadium, that’s exactly what happened. The devout Muslim, who stepped away from the game for a year to make a pilgrimage to Mecca, saw yellow flags flying from the game officials.

The unsportsmanlike conduct penalty touched off a firestorm of controversy on social media, with many wondering how it was different than players dropping to one knee in Christian prayer.

It turns out the referees were flagging Abdullah for the slide, not the prostration, and even Abdullah acknowledged that the NFL prohibits sliding to the knees in celebration. (emphasis added)

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http://www.salon.com/2014/09/30/penalty_on_chiefs_player_ignites_social_media/

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UPDATE 2

NFL: Muslim Player Shouldn't Have Been Penalized For Touchdown Prayer

By CATHERINE THOMPSON Published SEPTEMBER 30, 2014, 9:36 AM EDT

The NFL said Kansas City Chiefs safety Husain Abdullah, a devout Muslim, shouldn't have been flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after kneeling in prayer post-touchdown during Monday night's game against the New England Patriots.

Abdullah intercepted a pass from Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in the fourth quarter and ran 39 yards before sliding into the end zone on his knees and bowing in prayer.

-snip-

The Chiefs safety later said he thought he was penalized for sliding to his knees in celebration, according to the Kansas City Star. Chiefs coach Andy Reid agreed, even if he didn't think the official necessarily made a good call.

“When you go to Mecca, you should be able to slide wherever you want,” Reid said after the game, as quoted by the Kansas City Star.

NFL spokesman Michael Signora said Tuesday that Abdullah shouldn't have been penalized at all.

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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/nfl-penalizes-husain-abdullah-muslim-prayer

[Zynx]

1. Frankly I wish none of them would do that crap, but it should be applied consistently.

Also, the officials let players get away with all kinds of antics. His prayer motion was hardly the most extreme thing I've ever seen people get away with.

[JaneyVee]

5. Hey, I think you got a job offer ^^^^^

[diabeticman]

3. This is really starting to piss me off. We are being more and more inidated with Christian pray and

view points YET our first Amendment which allows the citizens freedom from a Federal/state religion is being used as a whining post for certain "Christians" who are the HARDEST to shove the christian belief down everyone's throat.

[JaneyVee]

4. perhaps they thought he was taunting them?

I think they cut down on touchdown taunting and spiking the ball and possibly even dancing?

[valerief]

6. Jesus, I hate religion and all the hate it brings. nt

[onenote]

7. Abdullah says the penalty was because he slid on both knees first

Whether or not that is the case, or should be the case, is debatable. But since the video above doesn't show the entire play, here's a longer view.

http://www.kcchiefs.com/media-center/videos/Husain-Abdullah-with-the-Pick-Six/1531f519-c86b-460f-b7cf-49e71d01043f

[Zynx]

8. Yeah, the slide was pretty obnoxious. That is probably what triggered it.

[MindPilot]

9. I fail to see what the guy did wrong.

He slid to a stop in the end zone and dropped his head to the ground. It was over--probably even before the whistle. It is hard to construe as even celebration, let alone excessive.

I don't get what is going on with the refs this season. I've seen them miss major calls like a player stepping out of bounds, and they seem to be completely ignoring some of the most blatant pass interference and hands-to-the-face calls.

Yet this gets a flag for excessive celebration?! I don't get it.

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

12. Sliding is against the regulations

for one and all, apparently.

Although, why, I'm not sure. It doesn't seem excessive, but my guess is that the league is trying to cut down on the amount of celebration that goes on, and now have a long list of what can and can't be down.

[Sunlei]

10. he can pray in the sidelines like the kneeler did. Its against the rules in the touchdown zone.

religious RW knows the difference too, but they love to out Muslims in America

[Blue Owl]

13. Time for the NFL to be flagrantly taunted

n/t

[Ptah]

14. NFL: Husain Abdullah penalty wrong

Husain Abdullah should not have received a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty after dropping to his knees and bowing in prayer following a 39-yard interception return for a touchdown during the Kansas City Chiefs' 41-14 victory over the New England Patriots on Monday night, the NFL said Tuesday.

According to Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1 (d), "Players are prohibited from engaging in any celebrations or demonstrations while on the ground."


"However, the officiating mechanic in this situation is not to flag a player who goes to the ground as part of religious expression, and as a result, there should have been no penalty on the play," NFL spokesman Michael Signora told ESPN's Ed Werder.


http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11616422/nfl-says-husain-abdullah-kansas-city-chiefs-penalized-praying-celebration

[Hugabear]

15. The right-wing hate machine will be out in full force over this

If you happen to see this story on any news sites, you might want to avoid the comments sections.