KANSAS CITY: Kansas City Chiefs player Husain Abdullah was slapped with a 15-yard penalty in Monday’s NFL contest after punctuating a fourth quarter touchdown by dropping to his knees in prayer, the US media reported.
However, the National Football League admitted yesterday that Abdullah should not have been penalised.
Abdullah, a devout Muslim, was slapped with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty after his touchdown during the Chiefs’ 41-14 rout of the New England Patriots on Monday night.
NFL spokesman Michael Signora said players are not allowed to celebrate while on the ground but this was different.
“Husain Abdullah should not have been penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct following his fourth quarter touchdown,” Signora said yesterday.
“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,” he added.
Abdullah, who scored during a 39-yard interception return in the fourth quarter, had said he believed he was penalized for the slide prior to his prayer.
“I just got a little too excited,” Abdullah told reporters after the game. “I think it was for the slide.”
Abduallah slid on his knees for several yards before touching his head to the ground at the back of the end zone.
Social media was quick to criticize the officials, including Abdullah’s agent CJ LaBoy who indicated that his client was practising the ‘sajda’, a religious prayer. “If the NFL tries to fine @HAbdullah39 for his TD celebration there’s going to be some problems,” LaBoy wrote on his Twitter account.
It is interesting to note the NFL never penalized former Denver Bronco Tim Tebow’s “Tebowing” celebration which became an American phenomenon three years ago.
Tebow, who attended Trinity Christian Academy, made no effort to hide his religious beliefs on the field, kneeling in prayer after scores and wearing religious messages in his eye black makeup.
Abdullah skipped the entire 2012 NFL season to take a pilgrimage to Mecca. AGENCIES
