Ex-Hawthorn president and former premier Jeff Kennett has lashed out at the Australian Football League (AFL) for ruling that all grounds must install prayer rooms.
It comes after Richmond's Bachar Houli said the requirement for Muslims to pray five times a day was preventing many from attending AFL games. Houli said many had to pray in carparks or stairwells at AFL grounds.
But Kennett called the AFL's mandate "ridiculous".
He said, "To put prayer rooms into sporting venues is not part of the Australian lexicon. I think it is an over-reaction. It's not practical, it's stupid, it's political correctness gone mad."
Kennett said the move would also destroy the culture of football and make unnecessary change. He said, "In the old days when you went to a football ground there were very few stands, there was mud on the ground that was real football."
Houli, an observant Muslim who works for the AFL one day a week as a multicultural ambassador, asked the league chief to provide prayer rooms at all grounds. Prayer rooms, for all denominations, have been recently introduced at three major stadiums. But the AFL is now requiring prayer rooms at all other interstate venues.
Houli said few fans knew of the existing prayer rooms and Mr Demetriou said prayer rooms were long overdue.
League chief Andrew Demetriou said, "It was a request from Bachar in his role as a multicultural ambassador and, to be honest, I was genuinely surprised it wasn't thought of before. We will be speaking to all our venues about providing a prayer room, which is, of course, for any denomination. It's again a demonstration of our inclusiveness."
Houli, who prays five times a day,including five minutes before and after games, said many Muslims weren't going to the footy because of a lack of prayer rooms. He said all Muslims would need to pray once while at games, with women in an enclosed area. |