Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair removed the name Wafaa Akila from his eyeblack during the team’s Week 2 game against the Cincinnati Bengals after an NFL official warned that he could be ejected if it remained. He finished the game without wearing eyeblack.
The action came after Al-Shaair was fined $11,492 in Week 1 for displaying the name Hind Rajab. The source identified Rajab as a Palestinian girl who died in a bombing in Gaza. Al-Shaair did not challenge that penalty.
NFL rules prohibit personal messages displayed by players on game day. The league has warned players, including former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon and those wearing customized cleats, that they could be barred from playing unless such messages were removed. Arizona Cardinals defensive back Kei’Tre l Clark was fined last week for writing “Glory B 2 God” on his eyeblack.
Al-Shaair, who is Muslim, also received an $11,593 fine in January for writing “Stop the Genocide” on his eyeblack. Discussing that penalty, he said a human life could not be measured at $11,000 and was priceless. He signed a three-year, $54 million contract extension in April. Fox News was the source of the report.