Al-Shaair wears names of Palestinian sisters during NFL game
The Texans linebacker honoured Lana and Bana Ahmad on his eye black. Al Jazeera reports he has previously been fined for messages on his playing equipment.
Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair wore the names of sisters Lana Ahmad, 12, and Bana Ahmad, eight, on his eye black during the team’s game against the Indianapolis Colts.
Al Jazeera reports the sisters were killed with their family in an Israeli air attack earlier this month. The outlet said Al-Shaair posted about them before the game and later shared an image of the tape bearing their names.
The gesture follows earlier messages on Al-Shaair’s playing equipment honouring Palestinians killed in Gaza. Al Jazeera reports the NFL fined him $11,491 after he displayed the name of five-year-old Hind Rajab.
The outlet also reports he was fined in January for displaying “Stop The Genocide” on his nose tape. US media reports cited by Al Jazeera said he was later told to remove the eye black bearing Rajab’s name or leave the game; the NFL’s account is not included in the supplied material.
