Kansas City – Social media was abuzz Tuesday morning after a Muslim player for an American professional football team was penalized for praying in a celebratory manner following a touchdown that he scored for his team.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
Husain Abdullah, a defensive back for the National Football League’s Kansas City Chiefs, intercepted a pass thrown by New England’s Tom Brady and returned it to the end zone for a touchdown during his team’s victory on Monday night in Kansas City.
After scoring the touchdown, Abdullah then kneeled to the ground briefly and touched his head to the turf, mimicking the prayer motion that Muslims perform when worshiping.
The referees officiating the game penalized Abdullah for unsportsmanlike conduct, resulting in a 15-yard penalty for his team.
The penalty ignited a debate on social media sites with critics crying foul over what they perceive as a double standard when it comes to NFL players making gestures of worship during games.
Tim Tebow, a former quarterback for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets, became a lightning rod of controversy for his overt expressions of religious sentiment during games. His trademark celebratory gesture, “Tebowing” – in which the quarterback got down on bended knee and put his clenched fist to his forehead while praying – turned into a viral sensation that spread on social media.
In light of Abdullah’s penalty, there are some who suggest that Tebow was celebrated due to his Christian faith while the Kansas City player was singled out due to his devotion to Islam.
Content is provided courtesy of the Jerusalem Post
This was obviously a racist and anti-Islamic decision and the ref should be penalized and the league should apologize. Every game you see some X’trian player crossing themselves or kneeling after a TD without anyone mentioning. We don’t have that many frum yidden playing tight end or running backs so we don’t have someone stopping to bench gomel after crossing into the end zone. Islamic followers are more numerous in the US than Jews and many X’trian sects. Get used to it and stop discriminating.
Although, I’m not the biggest fan of Islam, I do believe in Equal rights, so if Tebowing was allowed, so too should Abdullahing.
Tebowing was not the wrath of the league but this was? This is even more docile that declaring a lie about a fraud named jexus. Disgusting league decision.
It’s funny how the NFL comes down hard on a Muslim player for praying after scoring a touchdown. However, several players who beat the heck out of their wives, girl friends and children appear to get a free pass. What priorities on the part of the NFL!!
I don’t see any controversy here. Christianity is a decent and civilized religion, especially as practiced in America, especially in the last 100 years, and thus should not only be tolerated, but, for the good of the country, encouraged. Islam, on the other hand, is a beastly ideology and does us harm. Suppressing it is not wrong.