Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair took off an eyeblack inscription during the team’s Week 2 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals. An NFL official had noticed the name Wafaa Akila and told Al-Shaair and the Texans it needed to be removed. The official also warned that Al-Shaair would not be allowed to remain in the game if he left it in place.
He finished the contest without eyeblack.
The action 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 in a bombing in Gaza. Al-Shaair did not challenge that penalty.
The NFL bars players from showing personal messages on game day and has previously warned players, including Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon and those wearing customized cleats, that they could be kept out of games for refusing to remove such messages.
Arizona Cardinals defensive back Kei’Trel Clark was fined last week for writing “Glory B 2 God” on his eyeblack. Al-Shaair, who is Muslim, also received an $11,593 fine in January for “Stop the Genocide.” He said then that a life was priceless and could not be valued at $11,000. In April, he agreed to a three-year, $54 million contract extension. Fox News supplied the report.
