NFL linebacker honours Palestinian girl after league fine
Houston Texans player Azeez Al-Shaair wore Wafaa Akila’s name during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals, days after being fined for displaying Hind Rajab’s name.
Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair wore eye black bearing the name of Wafaa Akila during the team’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, continuing his public advocacy for Palestinian children.
Al Jazeera reported that Akila, an eight-year-old Palestinian girl, was killed with her father in Gaza in an Israeli attack. The account of her death has not been independently verified in the supplied material.
The tribute came days after the National Football League fined Al-Shaair US$11,941 for displaying the name of Hind Rajab, a five-year-old girl killed in Gaza in January 2024 after gunfire struck her family’s stranded car.
The NFL regulates messages displayed on players’ clothing and equipment during matches. Al-Shaair had previously worn the words “Stop The Genocide” on his nose tape and was also fined by the league.
The supplied report says basketball player Kyrie Irving offered to pay Al-Shaair’s latest fine. Al-Shaair has also shared posts about Akila and previously visited Palestinian refugees and children.
