NFL player Azeez Al-Shaair has been fined over $11,000 for wearing the name of a Palestinian girl who was killed by Israeli forces. This happened during a game last weekend, according to a league spokesman on Wednesday.
Linebacker Al-Shaair had the name "Hind Rajab" written on his eye black. Eye black is a sticker or paint that American football players use to reduce glare. This was during the Houston Texans' game against the Buffalo Bills.
Rajab was just five years old when she died in Gaza in 2024. Israeli troops opened fire on her family's car, and this tragic event became part of an Oscar-nominated documentary.
NFL rules do not allow personal messages, including political statements, during game days. An NFL spokesman confirmed to AFP that Al-Shaair was fined $11,941 for breaking this rule.
Last season, Al-Shaair was also fined for a similar reason. He displayed a personal message that read "Stop The Genocide."
The NFL policy says that players cannot wear or show personal messages during games. This includes anything written or illustrated unless the league has approved it beforehand. The league can approve certain items like jersey patches to honor special occasions or people.
But the NFL will not approve any items related to political activities, causes, or campaigns. That is clearly stated in the rules.
Al-Shaair, who is 29 years old and from Florida, is a practicing Muslim. He has often talked about the situation in Gaza. "I feel like it’s something that’s trying to be almost silenced," Al-Shaair told the Houston Chronicle in 2024.
He added, "On either side, people losing their life is not right. In no way, shape or form am I validating anything that happened. But to consistently say that because of (October 7), innocent people (in Gaza) should now die, it’s crazy."
Dallas Mavericks basketball player Kyrie Irving quickly came out in support of Al-Shaair. He offered to pay the footballer’s fine himself. "I’ll take care of his fine," Irving posted on social media.
Last month, the Israeli military admitted that its troops fired on Rajab’s family car. They also said they have ordered a criminal investigation into the killing, which has sparked international outrage.
Rajab’s body was found in the bullet-riddled car in Gaza City days after she was last heard from. This was during a desperate, hours-long phone call to the Palestinian Red Crescent on January 29, 2024.
The Israeli military had previously denied that its troops were in the area near where the incident happened.
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