From Newsweek · Michael Gallagher · · 1m 10s
Texans star fined again for protest on eye black
Azeez Al-Shaair paid $11,492 for wearing a Palestinian girl's name on his uniform during Week 1.
In brief
Azeez Al-Shaair paid $11,492 for wearing a Palestinian girl's name on his uniform during Week 1. The NFL continues to fine players for unauthorized political messages on their gear, even when worn to honor victims of conflict. Originally reported by Newsweek.
Star linebacker fined for eye black
Houston Texans Pro Bowler Azeez Al-Shaair was fined $11,492 by the NFL for wearing an unauthorized message on his eye black during Sunday's season opener against Buffalo.
He wrote a girl's name
Al-Shaair wore 'Hind Rajab' on his eye black, honoring a 5-year-old Palestinian girl killed with her family by Israeli military in January 2024.
Second fine in nine months
This is Al-Shaair's second eye black fine since January. He was fined $11,593 in a playoff game for wearing 'Stop the Genocide' on his gear.
He defends his message
Al-Shaair said the suffering of others is bigger than football and that he feels compelled to speak up about what's happening in the world.
“At the end of the day, it's bigger than me. If you have a heart and you're a human being you can see what's going on in the world.”
A pattern of fines
Al-Shaair has been fined 12 times in his seven-plus year NFL career, including multiple fines for helmet use, late hits, and now unauthorized messages.
The short version
The NFL continues to fine players for unauthorized political messages on their gear, even when worn to honor victims of conflict.
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