AFL now a Mecca for all fans Daryl Timms
From: Herald Sun
April 19, 2012 RICHMOND'S Bachar Houli said more Muslims would go to the footy after the AFL announced prayer rooms must be provided at all venues.
The requirement for Muslims to pray five times a day was stopping many from attending AFL games, he said.
Houli said many were forced to pray in carparks or stairwells at AFL grounds.
Houli, a devout Muslim who works for the AFL one day a week as a multicultural ambassador, asked league chief Andrew Demetriou to provide prayer rooms at all grounds.
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.
Houli said not many fans knew of the existing prayer rooms and Mr Demetriou said prayer rooms were long overdue.
"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,"
Mr Demetriou said.
"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 for five minutes before and after games - said a lot of people from the Islamic community 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 women in an enclosed area.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-news/afl-now-a-mecca-for-all-fans/story-e6frf9jf-1226332122338
