NFL Fines Azeez Al-Shaair Over Eye-Black Message
Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair was fined $11,593 by the NFL for wearing eye-black strips with the message "stop the genocide" during a wild-card win over the Steelers. The league’s rule prohibits on-field personal messages unless approved in advance, and Al-Shaair wore the message again before the following divisional round game but not during it. The gesture references the Gaza-Israel conflict, aligns with his past support for Palestinian causes via the My Cause, My Cleats campaign, and he suggested he knew he’d be fined and questioned why other players have been allowed similar displays. The NFL could issue another fine for the pregame appearance depending on the timing of approval and display rules.