Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair played the rest of the team’s Week 2 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals without eyeblack after removing the name Wafaa Akila. The inscription was visible when the game started, but an NFL official later told the Texans and Al-Shaair it had to be removed or he could be ejected from the contest.
The warning came after Al-Shaair was fined $11,492 in Week 1 for displaying Hind Rajab’s name. The source described Rajab as a Palestinian girl who died during a bombing in Gaza. Al-Shaair did not challenge that penalty.
He also received an $11,593 fine in January for the words “Stop the Genocide.” Asked about that fine, he said, “What’s a life worth? ... Is a life worth $11,000? I think it’s priceless.” He signed a three-year, $54 million extension in April.
NFL rules bar personal messages from being displayed on game day. The league has warned players, including Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon and players with customized cleats, that they could be prevented from playing unless such messages were removed. Arizona Cardinals defensive back Kei’Trel Clark was fined last week for writing “Glory B 2 God” on his eyeblack.
Al-Shaair is Muslim. Fox News was the source of the report.
