Al-Shaair Was Fined $11,593 by NFL for Pro-Palestine Message, Citing a Violation of Uniform and Equipment Rules
Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair said he was not surprised after the NFL fined him $11,593 for wearing a pro-Palestine message during a recent game, but he remains unapologetic about his decision to do so.
The league issued the fine after Al-Shaair wore eye black displaying the words “stop the genocide,” citing a violation of its uniform and equipment rules, which prohibit personal messages on game-day gear. Speaking to reporters following the penalty, Al-Shaair said he was fully aware of the consequences before stepping onto the field.
“I understood what I was doing,” he said. “I knew there would be a fine.”
Using eye black to convey messages is not new in the NFL. Players including Tim Tebow and Stefon Diggs have previously written phrases on their eye black without being removed from games. The league has also promoted player expression through initiatives like My Cause, My Cleats, which allows athletes to design cleats highlighting political causes and nonprofit organizations.
In 2023, following the Hamas attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, NFL kicker Greg Joseph wore cleats that read “I stand with Israel.” Al-Shaair has also participated in the My Cause, My Cleats program, using it in 2024 to support the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund.
According to Al-Shaair, the issue was not the fine itself but the warning he received beforehand. He said league officials told him he would be pulled from the game if he wore the message, a consequence he believes is inconsistent with how similar situations have been handled in the past.
“I was told that if I wore that in the game, I would be pulled out the game,” he said. “That was the part that I was confused about. I understood it was a fine, but I’ve never seen somebody get pulled out the game for having eye tape with writing on it.”
Despite the punishment, the 28-year-old linebacker said he stands by his decision and views the message as a humanitarian issue rather than a personal or political statement.
“It’s bigger than me,” Al-Shaair said. “It makes people uncomfortable; imagine how those people feel.”
The fine comes after Al-Shaair was nominated last year for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, which honors players for their commitment to philanthropy and community service.
Reflecting on why he felt compelled to bring attention to Palestine, Al-Shaair said empathy, not affiliation, motivated him. “I have no affiliation, no connection to these people other than the fact that I’m a human being,” he said. “If you have a heart and you’re a human being, you can see what’s going on in the world, you check yourself real quick.”
He added that the perspective stays with him even after leaving the field. “Even when I’m walking off this field, that’s the type of stuff that goes through my head,” Al-Shaair said. “I have to check myself when I’m sitting here crying about football, when there are people who are dying every single day.”
