Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair is facing backlash from more than just opposing offenses this week. The NFL fined Al-Shaair $11,593 for a violation of its uniform and equipment policy after he wore eye black with the message “STOP THE GENOCIDE” during the Texans’ Wild Card playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The league’s stance is clear: personal messages-no matter the content-aren’t permitted on uniforms or equipment. But that hasn’t stopped the controversy from heating up.
Al-Shaair, who is Muslim and has publicly expressed support for Palestine during the ongoing conflict with Israel, used his platform on one of the NFL’s biggest stages to make a statement. The fine, which was first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, has drawn sharp criticism from CAIR-Houston, the local chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
In a statement issued Sunday, CAIR-Houston Director of Operations Imran Ghan called on the NFL to reverse the fine, questioning whether Al-Shaair was being singled out for a message rooted in humanitarian concern.
“If the NFL singled out Azeez Al-Shaair for punishment because of his anti-genocide message amid a backlash from the Israeli government’s enablers, then the NFL should apologize and reverse the fine,” Ghan said.
Ghan also pointed to what he sees as inconsistencies in how the league enforces its rules. He referenced the NFL’s past support for social justice initiatives, including coaches wearing pins from Robert Kraft’s “Stand Up to Jewish Hate” campaign. The implication: if those messages are acceptable, why not one calling for an end to genocide?
“The NFL apparently has no problem with coaches wearing pins from Robert Kraft’s ‘Stand Up to Jewish Hate’ campaign, and it should have no problem with an NFL player opposing genocide,” Ghan said. “It should approve the use of the slogan ‘Stop the Genocide’ going forward.”
CAIR-Houston praised Al-Shaair for what they called a principled stand, commending the linebacker for using his platform to raise awareness.
“We again applaud Houston Texans player Azeez Al-Shaair for using his platform to call for an end to genocide anywhere and everywhere,” said Ghan. “We strongly object to the NFL’s reported decision to fine him for doing so amid pressure from pro-Israel extremists.”
Ghan argued that the message on Al-Shaair’s eye black was a universal call for peace and justice, not a political provocation.
“Azeez Al-Shaair’s message was rooted in basic human decency and concern for innocent lives,” he said. “That should not be controversial, much less subject to a fine.”
The group is also calling for a broader review of the NFL’s policies, suggesting that if a message as general as “Stop the Genocide” warrants punishment, then perhaps the rulebook needs a rewrite.
“If NFL policies truly do require a fine for a player who makes a statement as generic as ‘Stop the Genocide,’ then the NFL needs to revise its policies,” Ghan said.
As of now, the league has not issued a public response to CAIR-Houston’s statement.
The Texans’ season came to an end with a loss to New England on Sunday, but this off-the-field story is likely to remain in the spotlight. Al-Shaair’s fine has sparked a broader conversation about player expression, league policy, and where the NFL draws the line between personal activism and uniform code violations.