Kansas City Chiefs Safety Husain Abdullah, after entering the end zone sliding on his knees, bowed forward and prayed with his head on the turf during Monday’s game.

MICHIGAN — Kansas City Chiefs Safety Husain Abdullah made international headlines this week after being penalized by a referee for entering the end zone sliding on his knees, bowing forward and praying with his head on the turf. 

Abdullah entered the end zone following a 39-yard interception return on Monday night’s win against the New England Patriots. He received a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct afterwards. 

The incident sparked discussions about whether Abdullah, an African American Muslim was held to a double standard by the NFL since other athletes have not faced consequences for similar gestures. Quarterback Tim Tebow received national praise for his habit of openly expressing his Christian religious beliefs on the field while bowing down in prayer. 

“The NFL clearly demonstrated double standards when they chose to penalize Husain Abdullah for kneeling in a religious gesture,” said Linda Sarsour, senior strategist for the Campaign to Take on Hate. “Even after the original ruling, there have been others who have not been penalized for similar gestures: Robert Griffin III, Brandon Marshall, James Jones, Greg Jennings.” 

After the penalty was issued, the Council on American Islamic Relations, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, called on the NFL to clarify its policy to prevent the appearance of a double standard. 

The NFL issued a statement on Tuesday acknowledging the penalty was a mistake: 

“Abdullah should not have been penalized,” the statement read. “Officiating mechanic is not to flag player who goes to ground for religious reasons.”

Abed Ayoub, legal director of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee of Washington D.C. and a longtime advocate for Muslim rights, said he doesn’t think a double standard exists because the referee may not have realized Abdullah was praying. 

“There really isn’t a double standard,” Ayoub said, noting that NFL rules state players are prohibited from engaging in any celebrations or demonstrations while on the ground.  He pointed out that religious expressions are the only exceptions made for the rule, which explains why Tebow has never been penalized. 

Ayoub said the incident shows the NFL could use more cultural sensitivity training, adding that he was pleased to see the NFL issued a public statement acknowledging the penalty was a mistake because Abdullah was praying. 

Dearborn resident Samia Sareini said she isn’t satisfied with the NFL’s response. “They should issued an apology for the penalty,” Sareini said. She agrees that the NFL may need sensitivity training and said the incident might not have occurred had Abdullah been a non-Muslim. 

“In my personal opinion, yes there is a double standard,” Sarieni said. “When this player Tim Tebow goes and prays on the field he gets praised and no one says anything.” 

Sarsour said it is hard to say whether the incident wouldn’t have happened if Abdullah was not Muslim. 

“What I got from this whole incident is that the NFL, including the referees, need religious and cultural sensitivity trainings. I think this was a case of a referee who had no idea that what Abdullah was doing was related to religion, in this case Islam.”

Sareini’s son plays football for Fordson High School. Over the years the football team has garnered national attention for holding football practice in the middle of the night to help players perform better while fasting during Ramadan. 

Sarsour, who is also a prominent civil rights activist, said that on a few occasions she has had to advocate for students in public schools around religious accommodations and often it comes down to education about Islam. 

 “Once people have enough information, they most often will act accordingly,” she said. “I hope this sent a message to the NFL that education is needed to ensure that all players are respected regardless of their faith or lack thereof.”