The NFL recently handed down a punishment in form of a fine to one of its players, and one Muslim group in the United States is not pleased about it. Houston Texans standout linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair was handed a five-figure fine for writing STOP THE GENOCIDE” on his eye black during Houston’s Wild Card round game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Al-Shaair has been a staunch advocate for the people of Palestine as they suffer at the hands of the Israeli regime, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the league felt this was a step too far.

“Source: Texans’ LB Azeez Al-Shaair was fined $11,593 for a violation of the NFL uniform and equipment rules for wearing eye black that contained a personal message during last week’s Wild Card game,” Schefter reported.

Source: Texans’ LB Azeez Al-Shaair was fined $11,593 for a violation of the NFL uniform and equipment rules for wearing eye black that contained a personal message during last week’s Wild Card game. pic.twitter.com/Z9r57v9dxC

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 18, 2026

Muslim American group outraged.

CAIR-Houston Director of Operations Imran Ghan gave a statement to Outkick. It’s safe to say the group is not pleased with the development.

“If the NFL singled out Azeez Al-Shaair for punishment because of his anti-genocide message amid a backlash from the Israeli government’s enablers, then the NFL should apologize and reverse the fine,” the statement read. 

“The NFL apparently has no problem with coaches wearing pins from Robert Kraft’s ‘Stand Up to Jewish Hate’ campaign, and it should have no problem with an NFL player opposing genocide, whether the genocide is in Gaza or Sudan or elsewhere. It should approve the use of the slogan ‘Stop the Genocide’ going forward.”

The group remains steadfast in its support of Al-Shaair.

“We again applaud Houston Texans player Azeez Al-Shaair for using his platform to call for an end to genocide anywhere and everywhere, and we strongly object to the NFL’s reported decision to fine him for doing so amid pressure from pro-Israel extremists,” Ghani said.

“If NFL policies truly do require a fine for a player who makes a statement as generic as ‘Stop the Genocide,’ then the NFL needs to revise its policies.

“Azeez Al-Shaair’s message was rooted in basic human decency and concern for innocent lives. That should not be controversial, much less subject to a fine.”

Hopefully, the NFL realizes that there’s nothing wrong with advocating for the vulnerable moving forward.