Husain Abdullah
Husain Abdullah received a penalty against his side for his "excessive" celebration NFL

NFL star and practising Muslim Husain Abdullah was handed a penalty by an NFL official for dropping to his knees and praying after scoring a touchdown.

Abdullah had just scored for the Kansas City Chiefs in their crushing 41-14 defeat of New England Patriots on Monday, 29 September, 2014, when he slid on his knees and prayed in the end zone.

The celebration was cut short when the 29-year-old was flagged by officials for celebrating "excessively" and was given a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Under NFL rules "players are prohibited from engaging in any celebrations or demonstrations while on the ground".

Abdullah told reporters afterwards: "If I get a pick, I'm going to prostrate before God in the end zone."

As a devout Muslim, Abdullah has observed Ramadan and in 2012 - 2013 he sat out the season to make the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.

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