Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair talks fine for pro-Palestinian message on eye tape: 'It's bigger than me'

Houston Texans walk rusher Azeez Al-Shaair spoke retired astir the good helium received for wearing a pro-Palestinian connection crossed his oculus portion during a playoff triumph against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Al-Shaair talked to reporters extracurricular his locker successful the aftermath of the Texans’ nonaccomplishment to the New England Patriots connected Sunday. He was deed with a good of $11,593 for having "Stop the genocide" emblazoned crossed the tape, according to ESPN.

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Azeez Al-Shaair #0 of the Houston Texans looks connected from the sideline during the nationalist anthem anterior to an NFL chaotic paper playoff shot crippled against the Pittsburgh Steelers astatine Acrisure Stadium connected Jan. 12, 2026 successful Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

He told the media helium was alert what helium did would garner a fine.

"I knew that that was a fine. I understood what I was doing … I was told that if I wore that successful the game, I would beryllium pulled retired the game," helium said, via ESPN. "I deliberation that was the portion that I was confused astir due to the fact that I understood that was a good but I ne'er seen Stef (Stefon Diggs) get pulled retired of a crippled for having oculus portion with penning connected it.

"At the extremity of the day, it’s bigger than me, the things that are going on. If it makes radical uncomfortable, ideate however those radical feel. I deliberation that’s the biggest thing. I person nary affiliation, nary transportation to these radical different than the information that I’m a quality being. If you person a bosom and you’re a quality being and you spot what’s going connected successful the world, you cheque yourself existent quick. Even erstwhile I’m walking disconnected this field, that’s the benignant of worldly that goes connected successful my head. I cheque myself erstwhile I’m sitting present crying astir shot erstwhile there’s radical who are dying each azygous day."

The NFL rulebook states successful Rule 5, Section 4, Article 8 what players are allowed and not allowed to deterioration connected crippled days. The regularisation states, "Throughout the play connected game-day that a subordinate is disposable to the stadium and tv assemblage (including successful pregame warm-ups, successful the seat area, and during postgame interviews successful the locker country oregon connected the field), players are prohibited from wearing, displaying, oregon different conveying idiosyncratic messages either successful penning oregon illustration, unless specified connection has been approved successful beforehand by the League office.

Azeez Al-Shaair #0 of the Houston Texans exits the tract during an NFL chaotic paper playoff shot crippled against the Pittsburgh Steelers astatine Acrisure Stadium connected Jan. 12, 2026 successful Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

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"The League volition not assistance support for immoderate nine oregon subordinate to wear, display, oregon different convey messages, done helmet decals, limb bands, jersey patches, mouthpieces, oregon different items affixed to crippled uniforms oregon equipment, which subordinate to governmental activities oregon causes, different non-football events, causes oregon campaigns, oregon charitable causes oregon campaigns. Further, immoderate specified approved items indispensable beryllium humble successful size, tasteful, non-commercial, and non-controversial; indispensable not beryllium worn for much than 1 shot season."

Al-Shaair has supported Palestinians in the past, including wearing "Free Palestine" cleats for the NFL's "My Cause My Cleats" run during the 2024 season. 

Al-Shaair had "Free" written connected 1 broadside of his shoes successful the colors of the Palestinian flag. On 1 shoe, "Surely to Allah we beryllium and to Him we volition each return," was written. On the broadside of his different shoe, helium included the fig of Palestinians reportedly killed and wounded successful their war with Israel.

The shoes were for the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, which helium besides supported successful 2023.

"I consciousness similar it’s thing that’s trying to beryllium astir silenced," Al-Shaair told the Houston Chronicle at the time. "On either side, radical losing their beingness is not right. In nary way, shape, oregon signifier americium I validating thing that happened, but to consistently accidental that due to the fact that of [Oct. 7] guiltless radical [in Gaza] should present die, it’s crazy. 

Azeez al-Shaair of the Houston Texans shakes hands with Aaron Rodgers of the Pittsburgh Steelers aft an NFL chaotic paper playoff crippled astatine Acrisure Stadium connected Jan. 12, 2026 successful Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  (Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

"[Other people] effort to marque a disconnect and dehumanize radical implicit there. And it's like, they're quality beings. Being a Muslim, we spot everybody the same; Black, White, Spanish, immoderate you are; you tin beryllium orange, like, we're each quality beings."

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Al-Shaair was besides portion of the Athletes for Ceasefire organization.

Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.

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