The NFL has been dishing out punishment for any political messages during games, and Texans star Azeez Al-Shaair - who has spoken out in support of Palestine in the past - was remarkably threatened
Azeez al-Shaair has been vocal in his support for Palestine and victims in the conflict with Israel
Azeez al-Shaair has been vocal in his support for Palestine and victims in the conflict with Israel(Image: Getty Images)
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Houston Texans star Azeez al-Shaair reportedly was told by the NFL to remove his eye black displaying the name of a late Palestinian girl or face removal from his team’s game.
Al-Shaair has stood up for Palestine amid the ongoing conflict in the region. Back in Week 1, he was fined $11,941 for having the name Hind Rajab written on his eye black during the loss to the Buffalo Bills, and the fine was paid by NBA superstar Kyrie Irving.
In Week 2, the Texans linebacker had the name Wafaa Akila, an 8-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza, on his eye black for the clash with the Cincinnati Bengals.
After it was spotted by a league official, Al-Shaair was informed he would have to remove it, or he would not be allowed to continue playing in the game, according to a report by The Athletic.
While Al-Shaair was not fined in Week 2, threatening his removal is a step up.
The NFL has a long history of strict uniform rules prohibiting what are considered personal messages on the field. As per Rule 5, Section 4 of the league’s rulebook: “For any other violation of this Section 4 (e.g., wristbands and mouthpieces that are not League-approved, towel with a personal message, impermissible headwear under the helmet) that is discovered while the player is in the game, player will be advised to make appropriate correction at the next change of possession; if the violation is not corrected, player will not be permitted to enter the game.”
Wafaa Akila was an 8-year-old Palestinian girl killed earlier this month by an Israeli airstrike.
Al-Shaair has spoken out on the Palestine-Israel conflict in the past. Back in January, Al-Shaair — who is Muslim — was fined $11,593 by the league for wearing a message ‘Stop the genocide’ on his eye black during Houston's playoff win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Israel-Palestine conflict took a further step in October 2023, when Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people and abducted 251 others. Israel launched a retaliatory offensive that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, although the state has rejected the label of a genocide despite United Nations panels, including a UN Commission of Inquiry, concluding that Israeli military actions in Gaza meet multiple criteria of the 1948 Genocide Convention.
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Robert Kraft was a figure that forced Ed Sheeran to drop Macklemore from his tour for his pro-Palestinian stance
Robert Kraft was a figure that forced Ed Sheeran to drop Macklemore from his tour for his pro-Palestinian stance(Image: Getty Images)
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It seems the conflict is increasingly spilling over into the NFL. Earlier this month, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft made the controversial decision to ban Macklemore from performing on Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour at Gillette Stadium.
Kraft reportedly played a central role, having been displeased with the rapper’s pro-Palestinian support regarding the war in Gaza during those New Jersey performances. The 85-year-old initially informed Sheeran that Macklemore would be banned from performing in Foxborough; the English pop star spoke with Kraft and other venue owners “at length all week to try and build a bridge,” but nothing came to pass.
According to Macklemore’s statement posted on social media, Sheeran informed him that Kraft went further, organizing other stadium owners to issue an ultimatum: if Macklemore remained on the lineup, the English singer would be barred from performing at their venues.
In a statement shared with ESPN, Kraft attempted to offer insight into his decision. He said: “Based on Macklemore's recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran's shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community, we determined that his participation in the September 25th and 26th concerts at Gillette Stadium would cross that line.”
Undeterred following his Week 1 fine, Al-Shaair spoke out regarding Hind Rajab, the 5-year-old Palestinian girl killed, along with six family members, in Gaza by the Israel Defense Forces in 2024. Her death sparked international fury, and the IDF opened a formal criminal investigation into the incident.
Al-Shaair told reporters: “What’s a life worth? Is a life worth $11,000? I think it’s priceless. So, to sit there and say that, ‘Oh man, the money’ and whatever, that wasn’t relevant to me.”
The 0-2 Texans face the 0-2 Colts in Indianapolis on Sunday.