Azeez Al-Shaair avoids NFL fine after removing eye black message

Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair avoided a fine during the team’s Week 2 game against the Cincinnati Bengals after being instructed to remove eye black containing the name Wafaa Akila, a Palestinian child killed in an Israeli airstrike.

According to league sources, Al-Shaair was informed by an official that he would not be permitted to continue playing if the message was not removed. Unlike his Week 1 violation, where he was fined approximately $11,941 for writing the name of Hind Rajab on his eye black, Al-Shaair was not penalized in Week 2 because he complied with the league's directive to correct the violation during the game.

The NFL maintains strict rules prohibiting players from displaying personal or political messages on uniforms, including eye black, without prior league approval. Al-Shaair, who has previously been fined for messages such as “Stop the Genocide,” has been vocal regarding the humanitarian situation in Gaza.