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Muslim NFL Player Penalized After Touchdown Prayer

Muslim NFL Player Penalized After Touchdown Prayer

The NFL came under renewed criticism Monday night when Kansas City safety Husain Abdullah received a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct after he knelt on the ground to pray after a touchdown. The NFL rulebook prohibits using the ground for celebration, but as many Twitter users pointed out, several Christian players have knelt on the ground to pray without receiving any penalty, while Abdullah, who is a devout Muslim, got a 15-yard penalty. The NFL quickly clarified that the ruling was wrong, as the practice is “not to flag player who goes to ground for religious reasons.” Abdullah said he thought the penalty was for sliding, not the prayer itself. “I just got a little too excited,” he told a local news station. But many are still arguing that the initial call shows a double standard on religion in the league …

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