@dailymailsportusa: NBA star Kyrie Irving has offered to pay the $11k fine for Houston Texans star Azeez Al-Shaair after hewas fined again by the NFL for wearing a political statement on his uniform. The linebacker had the name 'Hind Rajab' written on his eye black during Sunday's Week 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills, earning him a $11,492 fine. Hind Rajab, a five-year-old Palestinian girl, was killed after Israeli forces fired on her family's car in Gaza City in January 2024. She was trapped in a vehicle with her slain relatives, pleading for help by phone before she too was killed. The killings sparked international fury and prompted Israel's military to launch criminal investigations into troop conduct. Al-Shaair has divided opponents and fans in recent seasons with both his aggressive play on the field, as well as his vocal support for Palestine in its ongoing conflict with Israel. In January, Al-Shaair was fined $11,593 by the league for wearing a message, 'stop the genocide,' on his eye black during Houston's playoff win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and while carrying out his postgame interview on ESPN. According to the NFL rulebook, players are strictly prohibited from conveying personal or political messages 'either in writing or illustration' unless approved in advance. The league office states it will not grant permission for messages relating to 'political activities or causes.' The linebacker, who is Muslim, told reporters back in January: 'I knew that that was a fine. I understood what I was doing. 'But I was told that if I wore that in the game I would be pulled out the game, so I think that was probably the part I was confused about.' Al-Shaair then continued: 'At the end of the day, it’s bigger than me. The things that are going through makes people uncomfortable, imagine how (Palestinians) feel? That’s the biggest thing. 'I have no affiliation, no connection, to these people – other than the fact that I am a human being. If you have a heart and you’re a human being, and you see what’s going on in this world, you check yourself real quick. 'I’m sitting here crying about football when there’s people dying every single day.' This isn't the first time that the Texans linebacker has used his platform to speak out on the topic. Al-Shaair previously wore custom cleats supporting Palestinians for the NFL's 'My Cause My Cleats' campaign. Those shoes featured the words 'Free Palestine' and 'Surely to Allah we belong and to Him we will all return.' They also displayed the number of Palestinian lives reportedly lost in the war with Israel. 'I feel like it's something that's trying to be almost silenced,' Al-Shaair told the Houston Chronicle at the time. 'On either side, people losing their life is not right,' he added. 'In no way, shape, or form am I validating anything that happened, but to consistently say that because of [Oct. 7] innocent people [in Gaza] should now die, it's crazy.' In April, the Pro Bowl linebacker agreed to a three-year extension worth $54 million with Houston after an excellent season, where he led the Texans with 103 tackles, while adding two interceptions. He was also nominated for Walter Payton Man of the Year honors for his charity work in the Houston area, much of which centers on underprivileged youth and his own personal history with homelessness. #azeezalshaair #kyrieirving #houstontexans #texans #nfl
Daily Mail Sport USA
Region: US
Thursday 17 September 2026 00:27:33 GMT
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Big vip :
so much respect for this hole situation
2026-09-17 01:05:14
808
LaineyCharlieHank :
Why are we fining a player for that
2026-09-17 02:32:50
41
tonyburg :
Fine him triple next time
2026-09-17 01:55:16
25
SaraD1968 :
Mad respect for them both
2026-09-17 02:44:29
96
ethanw🏀 :
I thought Kyrie was fining him😭 I need to read better
2026-09-17 02:10:06
324
Vampyre2526 :
Kick him out of the NFL. No place for that BS
2026-09-17 03:04:20
1
Jack Brady :
W kyrie and W azeez
2026-09-17 00:31:44
231
sacharomero54 :
Kyrie= quality of men
2026-09-17 02:52:12
8
pc123 :
we love to see it
2026-09-17 03:08:24
0
TayB :
I wish I had this type of money to do stuff like this
2026-09-17 02:22:06
16
Justaguy :
Much respect to these two men.
2026-09-17 02:02:06
65
commysadra3 :
we need more of this. Great job to both of them. way to stand up and speak for people that cant speak for themselves
2026-09-17 01:34:24
47
𝔅𝔯𝔞x𝔱𝔬𝔫 𒉭 :
W athletes
2026-09-17 02:22:13
15
tim :
kyrie is awesome!! Love what he stands for
2026-09-17 02:37:42
8
Cohen :
Respect ✊
2026-09-17 00:30:21
28
taintsquirt :
I love Kyrie bro
2026-09-17 02:20:15
7
M R :
wtf he got fined for that?
2026-09-17 01:43:06
10
TayB :
Good man that Kyrie is
2026-09-17 02:21:37
5
partiMomma :
Mad respect
2026-09-17 01:57:02
11
Riddler Riddler :
He should be fired and banned
2026-09-17 02:33:47
1
Mktdet7625 :
If we turn our televisions off and stop watching the Circus… supporting as Economic Units…we would have the power to negotiate.
2026-09-17 02:58:34
5
taya💋🪩 :
Why can’t I find him on fantasy draft
2026-09-17 03:07:20
0
Republicans suck :
boss status.
2026-09-17 02:13:59
4
SnarkyTeddyBares :
Respect for this!
2026-09-17 02:43:53
2
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