THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Prayer rooms will be set up at all Aussie Rules stadiums following a request by a devout Muslim player to ensure fans do not have to pray in the car park.
The move prompted claims of "political correctness gone mad" but was largely met with amusement by fans who began issuing prayers for their teams on websites and a newly-created prayer room app for mobile phones.
The sporting code decided last week to introduce the multi-faith rooms as a "demonstration of our inclusiveness" following a request by Bachar Houli, believed to be the first observant Muslim player, who said it would lure more Muslims to the game.
"I speak for the Muslim community, I get complaints [that] there is nowhere to pray other than the car park," said Mr Houli, who plays for the Richmond club. "It can be quite disturbing [to pray] with people walking through to the game."
Some Christian and Jewish leaders also backed the rooms, saying they were already common in airports and hospitals.
However the move caused a backlash led by former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett, now president of the Hawthorn club, who said the rooms were "absolute rubbish". » | Jonathan Pearlman in Sydney | Thursday, April 26, 2012
