NFL Houston Texans linebacker Azeez al-Shaair wore a "stop the genocide" eye black on Sunday despite being fined $11,593 for wearing it last week.
The eye black, a grease or strip applied under the eyes by players to reduce glare, was applied by al-Shaair before the Houston Texans game with the Patriots but was not worn by him during the game.
Reports state he was fined when wearing the eye black in a match against Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday, for violating NFL uniform and equipment rules and showcasing a personal message.
The message on the eye black was in reference to reference to Israel’s war on Gaza, which has killed over 70,000 Palestinians since October 2023. Despite a ceasefire agreed in October, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli army, and aid is still heavily restricted, causing further deaths. In recent months, dozens of Palestinians, including infants, have died from the severe cold amid a lack of humanitarian aid.
Al-Shaair told reporters that he was aware he would be fined for the message and was informed that he’d be removed from games if he wore it again.
"At the end of the day, it’s bigger than me, but things that are going on makes people feel uncomfortable. Imagine how those people [Palestinians] feel. I think that’s the biggest thing. I have no affiliation, no connection to these people, other than the fact that I’m a human being," he said.
Al-Shaair has been vocal about his support of human rights and Palestine, and joined the NFL’s ‘My Cause, My Cleats’ programme in previous seasons, where he wore cleats to support Palestinian causes.
Earlier on in the football season he issued a statement reaffirming his position, saying: "If my platform can bring even a little hope to families in Palestine, then that is what I want to use it for."
Al-Shaair also raised questions over apparent double standards, noting that other players, including current Patriots, were allowed to play despite repeatedly wearing messages on their eye black.
Reports also state that, based on official NFL rules regarding personal messages, specifically Article 8 of the rulebook, al-Shaair is likely to face another fine for wearing the message during the pre-game brief on Sunday.
Despite the fine, al-Shaair has been praised widely by activists online.
"Sometimes all it takes is a small gesture to carry a big message," one person wrote on X in response to his move.
"This is not a "personal message." There is actually nothing *less* personal than using your position of influence to advocate for people halfway across the globe. I’m grateful for the courage of Azeez Al-Shaair. We need more folks like him in this world," another wrote.
The Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR) also weighed in on the matter, writing: "We commend Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair for using his platform to express opposition to genocide during last night’s primetime football game. Like Muhammad Ali and other athletes of conscience, he used his platform for a cause of justice. We applaud him and encourage others to follow suit in standing up for human rights, from Gaza to Sudan and elsewhere."