NFL Houston Texans linebacker Aiz Al-Shair (28) risked the fine and delivered the message he wanted.
‘ESPN’ reported on the 19th (Korean time) that Al-Shire wore eye black with the message ‘stop the genocide’ written on it during training ahead of the NFL playoff game against the New England Patriots held that day.
He wore black eyes with this message written on them under his eyes during the first round of the playoffs against the Pittsburgh Steelers held last week.
According to ESPN, the NFL fined him $11,593 (about 17.1 million won) for violating uniform and equipment regulations.
The reason he wrote this message again, even though he knew he would be fined, is because of recent events in the Gaza Strip.
After Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023, the Israeli military expressed concern about tens of thousands of deaths in the Gaza Strip alone due to operations. Israel denies the genocide charge, calling it an “anti-Semitic attack.”
Al-Shahr, who is Muslim, has been supporting Palestine for the past few seasons by emblazoning messages of support for Palestine on his football shoes.
“If I can use my influence to give some hope to families in Palestine, that’s why I use my influence,” he said in a statement earlier this season.
[김재호 MK스포츠 기자]
