The NFL has fined Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair after using his game-day look to send a message about the war in Gaza.
Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Al-Shaair was hit with a $11,593 fine for wearing eye black that read “stop the genocide” during last week’s wild-card game, a league source confirmed. The fine stems from a violation of the league’s uniform and equipment policy (found at rule 5, section 4, article 8 here), which prohibits players from displaying personal messages on game-day apparel unless specifically permitted under NFL rules.
Al-Shaair’s message was widely interpreted as a reference to the ongoing war in Gaza. The conflict escalated after Hamas’ attack on Israel in October 2023, which the U.S. State Department has estimated left more than 1,200 people dead. Subsequent Israeli military operations have led to tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths and have left over 80% of buildings in the region damaged.
Among the organizations that have accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza are the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention, the Center for Constitutional Rights, the International Federation for Human Rights, the United Nations Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People, Amnesty International, the Jerusalem Center for Legal Aid and Human Rights, and more. The International Court of Justice has found it "plausible" that Israel is committing genocide.
While Al-Shaair has made headlines for the new fine, this isn’t the first time he has used his NFL spotlight to highlight Palestinian humanitarian concerns.
A devout Muslim who has said he doesn’t pretend to be an expert on international affairs, Al-Shaair has still repeatedly framed his activism as a moral responsibility by using his platform, in his view, to advocate for civilians caught in the violence. Earlier this season, he said, “If my platform can bring even a little hope to families in Palestine, then that is what I want to use it for.”
In previous seasons, he has also taken part in the league-approved “My Cause, My Cleats” initiative to support Palestinian-related causes, including spotlighting relief efforts and referencing the mounting death toll.
The fine adds to a growing list of moments where the NFL has enforced its strict game-day messaging policies, especially as players increasingly use fashion and accessories to express personal, cultural, or political beliefs.
