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Houston Texans passer Azeez Al-Shaair spoke out about the fine he received for wearing a pro-Palestinian message on his eye tape during a playoff victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Al-Shaair spoke with reporters outside his locker following the Texans’ loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday. He was fined $11,593 for writing “Stop the Genocide” on the tape, according to ESPN.
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Azeez Al-Shaair #0 of the Houston Texans watches from the sidelines during the national anthem before an NFL playoff football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on January 12, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
He told the media that he knew what he did would earn him a fine.
“I knew it was a fine. I understood what I was doing…I was told if I wore that during the game I would be removed from the game,” he said via ESPN. “I think that’s the part that confused me because I understood it was a fine, but I’ve never seen Stef (Stefon Diggs) get removed from a game for having duct tape over her eyes with writing on it.
“At the end of the day, what’s happening is bigger than me. If it makes people uncomfortable, imagine how they feel. I think that’s the most important thing. I have no affiliation, no connection to these people other than the fact that I’m a human being. If you have a heart and you’re a human being and you see what’s going on in the world, you control yourself very quickly. Even when I leave this field, these are the kinds of things that going on in my head. I control myself when I sit here crying about football when there are people dying every day.
The NFL rule book states in Rule 5, Section 4, Article 8 what players are and are not allowed to wear on game days. The rule states: “During the entire period of game day that a player is visible to the stadium and television audience (including during pre-game warm-ups, on the bench and during post-game interviews in the locker room or on the field), players are prohibited from wearing, displaying or otherwise transmitting personal messages, in writing or by illustration, unless such message has been approved in advance by the League office.
Azeez Al-Shaair #0 of the Houston Texans leaves the field during an NFL playoff football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on January 12, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
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“The League will not authorize any club or player to wear, display or otherwise convey any messages, by means of helmet stickers, armbands, jersey patches, mouthpieces or other items affixed to uniforms or playing equipment, that are related to political activities or causes, other non-football events, causes or campaigns, or charitable causes or campaigns. In addition, any approved item must be modest in size, good quality tasteful, non-commercial and non-controversial; should not be worn for more than one football season.”
Al-Shaair has supported Palestinians in the past, including wearing “Free Palestine” cleats for the NFL’s “My Cause My Cleats” campaign during the 2024 season.
Al-Shaair had “Free” written on one side of his shoes in the colors of the Palestinian flag. On one shoe it was written: “To Allah we belong and to Him we will all return.” On the other side of his shoe, he included the number of Palestinians reportedly killed and injured in their war against Israel.
The shoes were intended for the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, which he also supported in 2023.
“I feel like it’s something that we’re almost trying to silence,” Al-Shaair told the Houston Chronicle at the time. “One way or the other, it’s not right that people are losing their lives. In no way am I validating anything that happened, but I constantly say that because of [Oct. 7] innocent people [in Gaza] should now die, it’s crazy.
Azeez al-Shaair of the Houston Texans shakes hands with Aaron Rodgers of the Pittsburgh Steelers after an NFL playoff game at Acrisure Stadium on January 12, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
“[Other people] try to create a disconnect and dehumanize the people there. And it’s like they’re human beings. As a Muslim, we see everyone the same; Black, White, Spanish, whatever you are; you can be orange, like we’re all human beings.
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Al-Shaair was also part of the Athletes for Ceasefire organization.
