"Prayer rooms, for all denominations, have been recently introduced at Etihad Stadium, the MCG and Sydney's ANZ Stadium."

"But the AFL is now insisting on prayer rooms at the SCG and all other interstate venues."

http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-premiership/bachar-houli-says-more-muslims-will-go-to-the-footy-as-afl-announces-prayer-rooms-must-be-provided/story-e6frf3e3-1226332833993

this is interesting, it would make the muslims feel more welcome to a league games and for those that cant come because of prayer, this would provide a good solution. thoughts??

The AFL is a very welcoming and inclusive competition. We want all Australians of all backgrounds enjoying our game.

If fans need to duck off for a toilet break and ritual wash then pray in an appropriate room at some time during the game as is their tradition I have no problems with it.

Edited by gyfox: 20/4/2012 11:32:50 AM

omg, just when you thought the world couldnt get any more politicaly correct.. why dont we give free driving lessons to asians aswell?

Edited by - brisbane boy: 20/4/2012 11:41:00 AM

:-s

Was not expecting this to be a genuine topic...

Depending on the number you're talking about. I mean if we're thinking 5-10 thousand supporters ducking of for half an hour, what's trhe point, they're missing a good chunk of the game.

However if you're talking 10-20, i'm sure there is alreay a space available where the devote can go. you just need to make it avaialbe.

Personally, it is my opinion the only religion that should be practiced during a match isd the religion of Football.

You don't read well?

Should ban pork, prawns and alcohol at games too - just so everyone can feel included etc.

Seriously, though, if there are some spare rooms available and it is requested - open them up and let people pray in there. I wouldn't think that it's worth spending any extra money on, though.

Sobkowski, it's talking about "all denominations", which would include your Christians, Jews, Hindu's etc. etc. although their prayer requirements are a lot less stringent than Islam's.

unless you make mention of the fact that you like to watch the Sokkah during the AFL off-season. then be prepared for a barrage of SW&P bile in your direction about not being a 'real Australian' been there done that worn the t-shirt. this part of the reason why I now never give any money of mine to the VFL.

"Prayer rooms, for all denominations, have been recently introduced at Etihad Stadium, the MCG and Sydney's ANZ Stadium."

You can have Prayer rooms and still be secular. It's not like they're asking everyone to pray before kick off or something.

No,no and more no. This is a christian country end of ! Go and and try and find a christian prayer room in a muslin state,even asking can lead to death !They need to pray, do it at home. If this makes me racist, then so be it.

should also ban peanut butter sandwiches

Your point?

We're a secular country, the rooms should be multi-faith.

I'll check with Foxsports but I think they're planning on some games on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Ahahahaaa wow!

Fuck no. We're not an Islamic state. If you're Muslim, and have to go pray, then so be it, but you find your own secluded area. We're not here to wait on hand and foot for every one of your specific needs.

I may sound hypocritical here, but this sort of stuff should be done in the relevant places ,not at a football ground ffs. You want to pray, go to the chapel,church or the mosque before or after the match.MADNESS

This

Aaaaaaaaaand that's me done for this thread

Jesus Christ

No. It's a football game their is no need to pray. Sport and religion should be kept separate.

Racist? Fuckwit? I say tomato, you say tomato...

Love how religions "claim" a country. A country is of the people, and this country is multi-cultural and multi-denominational.

Can't understand how this is such a big fucking deal. Does this cost you anything? Does this hinder your enjoyment of the game? Are they asking you to get involved to make this happen?

No.

So sit down, shut up and enjoy the game.

What a load of rubbish. It's a football match - you're at the ground for a maximum of 3 hours.

If you need to pray during that time, find a quiet corner and say a prayer.

The AFL is just spinning this story to deflect from the strong stench of bigotry that has been exposed by recent anti-indigenous comments made by key AFL personnel.

No

Some interesting 'inclusive' comments from some supporters here. Obviously football is to be broadbased, but not quite that broadbased.

What happens if Muslims & Jews both want to use the same prayer room...

Were you unaware posting this, re an AFL move with zero to do with football, would bring out the closet dwellers for a bout of Muslim bashing, or was that the intention?

Me too.:cry:

You should have listened to the callers on FiveAA last night about this topic.

Agree to an extent it's tokenism mostly, but if they can be afforded and they're multi-faith then it's not an issue.

I had to design a prayer room for Muslims at a university about a decade ago and found that the times specified for prayer are fixed and prayer is a priority over all other activities at the specified time. As such dropping in on the way to or from is not always an option.

They both agree to not share the pork sandwish left by the Christian.

Yes because all Jews and Muslims want to kill eachother :roll:

To some, sport can be like a religion but religion is not a sport. What next, if the prayer room is at the southern end, then all the prayers(of what ever religion it is) will be grouped together, can you see where this is going..

If you can't go to the game because you have to pray, too bad, go pray.

:lol: =d>

Exactly.

I would have thought that a football game is one of those places where you often most need to duck away for a bit of a prayer to the all mighty.

I am so very glad I didn't man
Sometimes I lose faith in humanity on this forum

There's always a lot of prayer at sports games.

As for specific Muslim requirements, I'd be interested to know what is done in countries with majority Muslim populations who also are massive football fans. Do they schedule games around prayer times or is there corporate prayer before or after games? Genuine question.

I have no problem with specific prayer rooms if that allows people to pray in peace and quiet without being hassled by others who might fine the experience unsettling. Asking people to find a 'quiet place' in an arena is somewhat unrealistic.

In the middle-east you often see devout Muslims who are working (as security guards for instance) simply get out their prayer mat, face east and pray wherever they are. That would be harder to do here I think.

'this' is going nowhere because it concerns only the afl.

Isn't it a fucking pity that's the case and it's none of your or any other football fan's fucking business. Or do you lot want to tell them what they can do too?

Football, the game of inclusion, as displayed once again in this thread.

Do people with Faith in Humanity need to pray ?

The A-League can afford to turn people away?

:lol:

FFS they could play a game next to the Kaabah at Ramadam and still nobody would turn up.

:lol:

To be fair I don't think you should be trying to tarnish football OR it's supporters because of the quality of people/thinking on this forum.

Internet forums in general are not representative of ANY sort of majority and are full of insignificant twerps who would piss themselves quite literally if they ever had to say half the things they say on here to a real life human being.

These people are also in the MINORITY on even this forum here so steady on with your own generalisations ;)

Couldn't help myself

Harder than most

Islam is not a race, so this just makes you a bit of an ignorant bigot rather than a racist.

An important distinction nonetheless
:lol:

Damn my day for being boring
I said I was done for this thread 6 posts ago!!!

God damn you people :lol:

Edited by davide82: 20/4/2012 12:40:19 PM

I've been around enough to know not to include the majority of football supports with this lot of feral rabble, whom i'd know are also a minority on this forum.

However, the rabble, having the biggest mouths and smallest minds are also the loudest and most damaging, presenting a damn poor example of a football supporter for anyone and everyone whom might have the misfortune to trip over the trash.

Credit to yourself for being one of a regular handful or two with the guts to speak up.

What are you on about?

Why is having a "prayer room" at a sports stadium an issue anyone should consider?

It's a bloody football stadium.

Do they have prayer rooms at shopping centres?

Do they have prayer rooms at cinemas?

Did Muslims even ask for this, or is it just AFL grandstanding?

It's unfortunate how true this is for society in general really, isn't it.

Yes.

Edited by notorganic: 20/4/2012 12:47:15 PM

Yeah sure if they want. Im not going to use them so this is a null issue to me. But if they want to pay money to see some of the game then go have a pray then come back and finish watching the game then i suppose they should have the opportunity to do so.

If thats putting them off coming to games maybe it is worth while in the end.

You might need to find some other examples to throw up. You can choose the time you go to the shopping centre and similarly with the cinema to not conflict with prayer time. With a football game that choice of time is not available.

The thread title needs to be changed to: Should government or privately run stadiums provide multi faith pray rooms?

The answer is of course, only if there is a true need. It doesn't bother me as I am unlikely to make use of one, but it would be nice to know that there is space available.

They do not have prayer rooms at all shopping centres.

Just to be clear racism doesnt only cover ethnic groups , it covers nationality , religion , skin colour etc.

I agree any room should be multi-faith and yes we're a secular country and yes the country with the majority religion will claim it (this is by far not exclusive to christians)

I feel sorry for the millions of christians who have to live under self defined islamic states.

Edited by glory recruit: 20/4/2012 12:56:59 PM

Ironic that AFl fans are the most racist bigoted insular c**ts on earth, the way the media try and put on this facade about afl being truly multi cultural and family friendly is laughable

Yes it is, but once again, i'd like to imagine those whom share a common interest in football with 'minorities' could behave a little better than the general public whom share no common bond.

Edited by skeptic: 20/4/2012 12:58:09 PM

How in God's name does a small room somewhere in the bows of a stadium effect YOUR way of life????!!!!!!!!!!!

Do they have prayer rooms at every concert venue in Australia?

I'm pretty sure 7th Day Adventists can't indulge in music & dancing, but I know for a fact our Muslim comrades love dancing & music.

So why do they do laps of that Saudi stadium ?

Yes, there should be an alter for Jews to make animal sacrifices to their god at half time. :lol:

I don't see why anyone is bothered by this. It would just be some hidden away room to allow them to participate in the sport without hurting their religious life.
If Christians needed a special room for their religion we would get them one too.
Does not affect you one bit.

Edited by neanderthal: 20/4/2012 01:03:01 PM

Remind me never to take seriously something you're sure about.

Why would it alienate anyone if the bloke next you quietly made his way to a private room and came back some time later. Without wanting to trivialise the issue its probably less interruptive than the blokes who nick off for a piss and come back with a tray of drinks every 10-15 minutes through a game.

that's the myth
and yet, there you have it
reading these comments you'd almost think it was a transcript of an Alan Jones radio talkback show
I'm genuinely surprised
I thought you guys were meant to be paragons of inclusiveness, togetherness and civility

Marketing baby, marketing :idea:

Would you like to qualify how a room set aside for praying effects the Australian way of life and alienates just about every other fan? Please.

And would you like to qualify your comments with statement that you are extremely anti Muslim as show by numerous past comments. And that you practice the Jewish faith?

don't forget, the rooms are multi-denominational
if you're Krishna or a Greenie, you can also go to the room to meditate
sometimes one needs a little bit of me-time

I'm sorry, but what is the Australian way of life? Can you describe it for me?

My understanding would be that anyone who lives in Australia and lives there life is therefore living an Australian way of life.

That is going to be different for each and every individual.

I still don't see why so many people have got there back up about this.

You're not paying for it. It's not going to affect your enjoyment of the game. You are not even going to see it happening. So how the hell does this affect your Australian way of life?

I would equally disagree with having a chapel for Christians to pray on Good Friday if sport is being played, or a room for Jews, etc.

It's a sport stadium - you come to watch sport. If you want to pray - go to a designated facility suitable for praying.

PS: I once had to attend a wedding during an important football match - I never expected the Church to have a TV room for me to duck out every so often & check the score.

Do those other denominations even need a prayer room? Let's stop painting it over with the broad PC brush and just admit it's being built for Muslims.

Secondly, Islam is a religion not a race. You can't be racist against Islam.

Then lets just call it xenophobia, the fear of the different.

It's true - during an AFL match nearly 50% of the time spent at the stadium the game is not being played.

And, if you miss a goal in the first 60 minutes of play you know it doesn't matter b/c the winning goal will come in the last 20 minutes of the game.

In football, you can't afford to even take a piss during the match.

I bet the Chelsea fans, who decided to "beat the 1/2 time queues" by leaving their seats before during stoppage time in the 1st half of their UCL SF against Barcelona, regret that decision.

People often pray during a football match - we do it whilst watching the game.

Posters trying to claim the moral high ground are as bad posters posting 'racist' posts.

pot calls kettle black? :lol:

That is so racist of you...

Hey, you knuckleheaded young prick, i know you're Jewish because i've seen you say so on many occasions. I did not, i repeat for knuckleheads attempting to misconstrue my comment, i did not say because you are anti Muslim it must mean you are Jewish.

So don't tell fucking lies, please. Okie dokie?

You dribble so much bullshit down your chin it's stained like nicotine fingers.

Edited by skeptic: 20/4/2012 01:19:21 PM

It's important that Australia keeps it's identity once you start giving leeway to ethnic extremists there's no stopping

Prayer rooms will not just be for Muslims, but can be for any religion.

If it makes people more comfortable in attending sport, we should be all for it.

Edited by heart_fan: 20/4/2012 01:23:18 PM

Wow. I wasn't aware this was a Christian country. :-k I thought we we're secular, meaning we offer a home to all Australians regardless of their personal beliefs. That's why these rooms are allowed for any religious or other needs.
And no, in almost all Muslim states there is a large population of Christians who get by fine aside from one or two countries with totalitarian governments.


So like... they should go and find a secluded area to pray? like in a room no one is using in the stadium?

Haha WTF is an ethnic extremist? :lol:

Our identity is one that is a home to all Australians regardless of personal belief. Learn to accept it or go live in a Christian state like Ghana.

Edited by neanderthal: 20/4/2012 01:31:46 PM

Actually christian population is hurt hard in mid east millions have left pakistan , hundreds of thousands have left iraq , as soon as mubarak fell from power there was already clashes against christians and there is now fears for the christians in Syria.

Millions got kicked out of turkey during world war 1 though atleast turkey is secular now.

No.....No

Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iran Afghanistan, Morroco, Libya etc etc legal systems are all based on Shariah Law. Thumbs up if you know what Shariah Law is!



Edited by Axelv: 20/4/2012 01:48:16 PM

Saw a prayer room in a sex shop once.



-PB

You're a lying little prick and burned your bridges. Go away and direct your hatred and jealousy at someone else.

It was likely for praying to 'get a bit' of the real thing, like your own motive for praying each night. (sorry, i couldn't help it)

i dont see the problem with it

*thumbs up*
And thankfully since I know what it is I know that it doesn't discriminate against Christians :P In fact it is aloooooot closer to the old testament of the Christian bible than our secular laws are.

Anyway, kind of getting sidetracked here. Using the logic that "Muslim countries treat Christians like shit so we should keep it difficult to be a Muslim here" is not great reasoning....

+1

Most stadiums have empty rooms doing sweet FA. This also means there is ZERO cost involved to a private or government owned stadium. It does not affect the so-called "Australian Way", which i thought actually meant embracing and tolerating. Who knows anymore.

Furthermore, if it gets to a point where we have to renovate an area to accomodate several hundred, maybe several thousand one day... then so be it! That would actually mean:

- more people buying match day/season tickets!
- better match day experience/atmosphere!
- more revenue for the club!

This. It's better for the game, end of.
People just get so emotional as soon as religion is involved, especially Islam.

Mod please close thread

This should be in da state league threadz where all da efniks are ulleh

So? There are quite a few shopping centres that do provide prayer rooms. Perhaps the stadiums should do they same if they have the room available.

I don't think it needs to be mandated or legislated, but let's not deny it just because people are afraid of what's different.



Racism doesn't have anything to do with religion. As GA pointed out, this is xenophobia or sectarianism depending on where it's coming from.



:lol:



Neanderthal is building a habit of hitting the nail directly on the head lately.



I don't understand what your point is here. Are you saying that just because nations that base their laws on Shariah (not all of these nations listed do, btw), we as a secular nation have the right to discriminate against muslims and that they should be grateful for the occasional bone that we do throw them?

The Muslim way of prayer requires space to lay out a prayer mat and the prayer is made bowed face down facing the Qibla direction (Mecca). Before praying they have to do ablutions and ritual washing although I think the latter can be done "dry". This is all best in a private setting in a public place. The prayer mats are normally stored near the door of the room and the room is fully enclosed to ensure there are no distractions. This is a potted summary of what is a very detailed ritual. I am not Muslim but these are the recollections of the process from studying it in preparation for designing a fully fledged prayer room.

Hahaha, some of the people saying things like, "Its idiotic" and "Oh my, so politically correct" and "What the hell, this is stupid". You all make me laugh.

Ive been for many game, cricket, football, rugby etc etc and often find that i have to read one of my 5 time prayers during the event, so as such, id get up and go with my mates, if i was with them, and ask one of the staff for a place to read.

Theyd tell us to find a quiet area in the stadium, which we would try and do to the best of our ability, and try and find a corner and put a jersey or jumper down and pray on that. Now its not ideal, as people walk past and they can see you and its quite noisy and such.


Having a prayer room would be fantastic, whilst we not fussy on the issue, its a solution worth considering. Many of the people who attend games are of other religions and i know quite a few people who have not come for games or have left a game at a certain time so they can go pray or have time to find a suitable place to pray. Its not the ideal situation, but we often have to try and make do.

We not asking for specific prayer room for our religion, but just a small room where anyone, who has prayers can go pray. They have it in all the airports nowadays and its not something that is difficult to do.

You may not like religion or be for it, but at the end of the day, their are people out there who are religious, but they also love their sport.

You may not like it, but a lot of the money nowadays comes from Etihad, Emirates, Qtel and etc etc and they are Muslim run organisations and as such, may look to cater to a religious audience.

:D
Always been a fan of your work too Organic ;)

lukerobinho what do you see as this countries identity?

do you believe australia's identity is an all Caucasian/christian/dinky dye aussie society where we all wear flip flops and were singlets + drink bear everyday when we come home from work?

If the goal is to remove barriers to attendance to increase crowds, what happens if other fans (say mums and dads with young kids) stay away because of they find it too confronting seeing possibly several hundred men making their way in and out of these prayer rooms?

How big should these rooms be?

What happens if other denominations want their prayer rooms, but different for those used by muslims?

I think this is a very sensitive issue for a lot of people. Its well and good to point the finger and call people xenophobic etc, but lets face it people go to watch the football. Is it football's role to change people attitudes?

Keep religion out of sport.

Everyone should be treated the same: no-one gets a room.

I would say that these mums and dads with young kids need to have a look at their own attitudes and awareness and not rely on Andrew Bolt to make up their minds for them.

So by that rationale, we should be removing all parents’ rooms from sporting facilities too? Too bad if you have to change your babies nappy, you chose to have the child, you have to deal with that and we don’t want you at the football.

We should probably also get rid of disabled toilets too.

Edited by hutchonholiday: 20/4/2012 02:36:13 PM