Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair took off an eyeblack inscription during the team’s Week 2 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals after an NFL official told him he could be removed from the game if it remained. He finished the contest without eyeblack. The message had displayed the name Wafaa Akila, which was visible when the game started.
The warning came after Al-Shaair was fined $11,492 in Week 1 for putting Hind Rajab’s name on his eyeblack. Rajab was a Palestinian girl who died during a bombing in Gaza, according to the report. Al-Shaair did not challenge that penalty.
The NFL bars personal messages on game day, and it has warned players such as former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon, along with players wearing customized cleats, that they could be kept out if messages were not removed. Arizona Cardinals defensive back Kei'Trel Clark was fined last week over the words “Glory B 2 God.”
Al-Shaair, who is Muslim, also received an $11,593 fine in January for writing “Stop the Genocide.” He later questioned whether a life could be valued at $11,000 and said life was priceless. He signed a three-year, $54 million extension in April. Fox News was the source of the report.
