Suspended Texans Linebacker Sparks Outrage With Hamas Propaganda Cleats

Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair is facing heavy criticism after wearing cleats featuring Hamas propaganda during Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The incident, which escalated after Al-Shaair’s illegal hit on Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, has ignited a firestorm of controversy over his actions on and off the field.

Al-Shaair participated in the NFL’s “My Cause My Cleats” campaign, choosing to display messages supporting the Palestinian cause. His cleats prominently featured the phrases “Free Palestine,” a Quranic quote, and the statistic “at least 41,788 Palestinians killed,” a figure sourced from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry.

The funds raised from Al-Shaair’s cleats were directed to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, an organization under scrutiny for its ties to groups linked to Hamas, according to NGO Monitor.

The cleats became a flashpoint following the game, with critics pointing out that Al-Shaair’s choice of messaging directly aligned with Hamas propaganda efforts. The controversy is particularly heightened given that Al-Shaair began wearing these cleats after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 civilians.

During Sunday’s game, Al-Shaair delivered a brutal hit on Trevor Lawrence, striking the quarterback in the head and neck as he attempted a feet-first slide. Lawrence was left with a concussion, and Al-Shaair’s actions sparked an on-field fight that resulted in his ejection. The NFL followed up by suspending him for three games.

NFL Vice President Jon Runyan condemned the play, calling it “unacceptable” and a “serious violation” of player safety rules. “You had time and space to avoid such contact,” Runyan wrote in a letter to Al-Shaair. s

After the incident, Al-Shaair issued an apology to Lawrence but then turned his focus on critics, accusing them of racism and Islamophobia.

“To the rest of the people who I’ve been called every single name in the book … to racist and Islamophobic fans and people, you don’t know my heart nor my character which I don’t need to prove to any of you,” Al-Shaair wrote.

This deflection has done little to quiet the uproar, as many view his comments as an attempt to avoid accountability for both his dangerous on-field actions and his divisive political messaging.

The incident highlights a growing issue within the NFL’s “My Cause My Cleats” initiative, as players increasingly use the campaign to promote polarizing political messages. Critics argue that the league needs to establish clear guidelines to prevent campaigns that align with extremist ideologies or spread propaganda.

While the league has condemned Al-Shaair’s dangerous play, its silence on the cleats themselves raises questions about whether it will address the larger issue of players using the platform to push controversial agendas.

As the controversy unfolds, Al-Shaair’s actions serve as a reminder of the importance of maintaining the integrity of both the game and the platforms it provides.

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