Listen Live
97.9 The Box Featured Video
CLOSE

abdullahscreengrab

“Husain Abdullah should not have been penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct following his fourth quarter touchdown,” NFL spokesman Michael Signora wrote in an email to USA TODAY Sports.

“Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1 (d) states ‘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.”

Abdullah will not be fined, Signora said.

Monday  night’s shocker of a game found Kansas City Chiefs blast New England Patriots 41-14.  The other shocker for some was when after a 39-yard interception return for a touchdown, Kansas City Chiefs safety Husain Abdullah received a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for the gesture you see below.

The penalty, caused a social media uproar because many couldn’t understand why a player would be penalized for praying, something that is allowed in the NFL after a touchdown.

The refs flagged Abdullah for dropping to his knees after the play, technically a violation of the league’s celebration rules. But it was rather apparent that Abdullah, a devout Muslim, was practicing the Sajdah, a religious prayer.

As former NFL referee Mike Pereira pointed out last season, going to one’s knees to give praise is exempt from that enforcement.

Fyi: It will probably be said by the NFL Refs that he was penalized not for the prayer but that he slid down on both knees into the prayer position, prompted a quick flag toss from a referee.

Danny Parkins, sports host in Kansas City, talked to Abdullah after the game and tweeted that he said he believes he was flagged because he slid as well.