The NFL fined Houston Texans Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair $11,941 for writing the name of a Palestinian girl on his eye black for Sunday’s season opener against the Buffalo Bills.
League policy prohibits players from wearing items with personal messages unless they have been approved by NFL officials.
NBA star Kyrie Irving reached out on social media, offering to cover the cost of the fine for Al-Shaair.
Al-Shaair wrote the name of Hind Rajab, a 5-year-old girl who — along with six family members — died when members of the Israeli Defense Force opened fire on their car in 2024.
The Pro Bowl linebacker made a similar statement against Israel last season, when he wrote “Stop the genocide” on his eye black in January.
“It’s bigger than me. …” he said last season. “I have no affiliation or connection to these people other than the fact that I’m a human being.”
Neither the Texans nor the NFL has issued a statement on Al-Shaair’s latest fine.
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