FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair was fined $11,593 by the NFL, per a league source, for a violation of the league rulebook governing unauthorized personal messages.
Al-Shaair wore eye black on his face with the message: “Stop The Genocide.”
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Al-Shaair is an outspoken advocate for peace in the Middle East and protecting Palestine. He regularly hosts children at games at NRG Stadium who are amputees that have been impacted by the violence in the Middle East.
#Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair was fined $11,593 by #NFL per a league source for eye black with a personal message. In his case, vs. #Steelers, Al-Shaair emphasized his advovacy for peace
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) January 18, 2026
Here is the full rulebook explanation governing this
rulebook:
Rule 6, Section 4,… pic.twitter.com/GBGHyujwth
Al-Shaair is referring to Palestinians killed by Israel’s military operations in Gaza that followed a deadly Hamas attack. Israel has denied genocide allegations, calling that antisemitism.
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Al-Shaair, in the NFL’s annual My Cause, My Cleats campaign, wore cleats advocating for protecting Palestine.
“If my platform can bring even a little hope to families in Palestine, then that is what I want to use it for,” Al-Shaair said in a statement.
Here is the full rulebook explanation governing this with, Section 4, Article 8 states: “Throughout the period on game day that a player is visible to the stadium and television audience (including in pregame warm-ups, in the bench area, and during postgame interviews in the locker room or on the field), players are prohibited from wearing, displaying, or otherwise conveying personal messages either in writing or illustration, unless such message has been approved in advance by the League office.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com