Normally sites of our great sporting clashes, Australia’s stadiums are the latest religious battlegrounds.
The AFL’s ruling this week for Muslim prayer rooms to be established at its grounds sparked uproar, led by former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett who called it “stupid”.
But the Sydney Cricket Ground yesterday backed the AFL and said it would follow Etihad and ANZ stadiums and the MCG and install a permanent prayer hall - if asked.
“We’ve had prayer rooms in the past, particularly for cricket, as part of our multicultural policy. It’s for when teams like Pakistan tour here. We cater for all ethnic groups and facilities,” an SCG spokesman said yesterday.
“It’s not a permanent facility and (is) used when we have touring teams.”
He said the SCG would back a move for permanent rooms: “If it comes as AFL policy, we can and we will.”
The AFL’s move came after Richmond player Bachar Houli, a devout Muslim, asked AFL chief Andrew Demetriou for prayer rooms at all grounds to lure more Muslims to the game.
While Mr Demetriou said the plan was a “demonstration of our inclusiveness”, ex-Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett 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.”
The NRL said yesterday it did not yet have a uniform policy on prayer rooms but encouraged “all grounds and clubs to be accommodating of all backgrounds”.
“We don’t have a policy ... we don’t have control of all the grounds. The AFL has a slightly different structure,” spokesman John Brady said.
ANZ Stadium, home of the Bulldogs and Souths and also the grand final venue, has two rooms.
Former rugby league player and Muslim convert Anthony Mundine said the plan was “beneficial” and called for the NRL to follow suit.
“It will show they’ve taken time out to cater for (players’) needs,” he said.