Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair removed the name Wafaa Akila from his eyeblack during the team’s Week 2 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals. An NFL official noticed the writing after the game started and warned Al-Shaair and the Texans that he could be ejected if it remained. He played the rest of 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 identified Rajab as a Palestinian girl who died in a bombing in Gaza. Al-Shaair did not challenge that penalty.
He was also fined $11,593 in January for writing “Stop the Genocide” on his eyeblack. When discussing the earlier fine, Al-Shaair said a human life could not be valued at $11,000 and described it as priceless.
NFL rules prohibit personal messages on players during game day. The league has warned players, including Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon and athletes wearing customized cleats, that they could be kept out of games unless such messages were removed. Arizona Cardinals defensive back Kei'Trel Clark was fined last week after writing “Glory B 2 God” on his eyeblack.
Al-Shaair signed a three-year, $54 million contract extension in April. Fox News reported the incident.
