Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair was told by the NFL he would be removed from a game against the Cincinnati Bengals unless he took off eye black displaying the name of an 8-year-old Palestinian girl, Wafaa Akila, according to multiple outlets.
The incident came one week after Al-Shaair was fined nearly $12,000 by the league for a similar tribute, according to Yahoo Sports.
CBS Sports reported that the NFL has been annoyed by Al-Shaair's use of eye black for political messaging and examined what the league's rulebook says about such displays.
Breitbart reported, citing The Athletic, that Al-Shaair was told to remove the girl's name from his eye black during the Bengals game or he would have to stop playing.
How each side covered it
Center
- Yahoo Sports noted Al-Shaair had been fined nearly $12,000 the week before for a similar tribute.
- CBS Sports examined what the NFL rulebook says about political messaging on uniforms.
- Both outlets described the league as annoyed by the repeated tribute.
“Azeez Al-Shaair was told to remove Palestinian child's name from eyeblack or be pulled from NFL game” — Yahoo Sports
Right
- Fox News, Breitbart and the New York Post reported the NFL threatened to remove Al-Shaair from the game.
- Breitbart cited The Athletic as the source of the report on the NFL's ultimatum.
- Outlets described the eye black message as referencing an 8-year-old Palestinian girl, Wafaa Akila.
- The New York Post characterized the eye black message as polarizing.
“NFL told Azeez Al-Shaair he'd be pulled from Texans game over pro-Palestinian eyeblack message” — Fox News
Questions readers ask
What happened with Azeez Al-Shaair and the NFL?
The NFL told Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair he would be removed from a Week 2 game against the Cincinnati Bengals unless he took the name of an 8-year-old Palestinian girl, Wafaa Akila, off his eye black.
Had Al-Shaair faced NFL discipline before this?
Yes. According to Yahoo Sports, Al-Shaair was fined nearly $12,000 the previous week for a similar pro-Palestinian eye black tribute.
Why did the NFL object to the eye black?
CBS Sports reported the league has been annoyed by Al-Shaair using his eye black for political messaging, and outlined what the NFL rulebook says about such displays.
What did right-leaning outlets emphasize about this story?
Fox News, Breitbart and the New York Post emphasized the NFL's threat to remove Al-Shaair from the game and framed the eye black as a polarizing pro-Palestinian message referencing the young girl.
Sources · 5 outlet reports
- CBS SportsCenterNFL threatens Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair over messaging: Here's what the rulebook says
- Yahoo SportsCenterAzeez Al-Shaair was told to remove name of Palestinian girl from eye black in Week 2
- BreitbartRight-leaningREPORT: NFL Orders Texans’ Azeez Al-Shaair to Remove Palestinian Girl’s Name from Eye Black
- Fox NewsRight-leaningNFL told Azeez Al-Shaair he'd be pulled from Texans game over pro-Palestinian eyeblack message
- New York PostRight-leaningNFL threatened Texans star over polarizing eye black with Palestine reference