Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair wore a message of “stop the genocide” on his eye black for the second straight playoff game despite reportedly being fined for it after last week’s wild-card round.
A source had told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Al-Shaair was fined $11,593 for wearing the eye black against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday. The fine was for violating NFL uniform and equipment rules by wearing eye black that contained a personal message.
Al-Shaair could be seen wearing the eye black while giving a pregame pep talk to his Texans teammates.
Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair wore a message of “stop the genocide” on his eye black for the second straight playoff game. Michael Owens/Getty Images
Al-Shaair’s message was in reference to concerns over Israel’s policies in Gaza, where tens of thousands have been killed in Israeli military operations following the deadly Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023. Israel has adamantly rejected genocide allegations against it as an antisemitic attack.
Al-Shaair, who is Muslim, has aided Palestinians on the field by wearing cleats to support Palestinian causes through the NFL’s “My Cause, My Cleats” program over the past few seasons.
“If my platform can bring even a little hope to families in Palestine, then that is what I want to use it for,” he said in a statement earlier this season.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
