A right-wing commentator has demanded fans “boycott” the NFL after Houston Texans’ Azeez Al-Shaair wore a “pro-terrorism message” on his shoes on Sunday.
Eagle-eyed fans criticized Al-Shaair after noticing a pro-Palestine message on the linebacker’s cleats during the Texans-Jaguars game.
Al-Shaair was already in the bad books of many after a brutal hit on Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence that led to him being ejected from the game.
But the message on his shoes also did not go down well with fans and commentators, who took to social media to criticize Al-Shaair.
This included Nick Adams, the Australian-born right-wing commentator and self-proclaimed alpha male, who posted on
‘Nick Bosa wears a MAGA hat in a postgame interview and he’s fined the NFL’s maximum amount. Boycott the NFL.”
A right-wing commentator has demanded fans ‘boycott’ the NFL over Azeez Al-Shaair’s boots
Al-Shaair sparked a furious fight between Jaguars and Texans players after a brutal tackle
Adams is referring to the $11,255 fine given to San Francisco 49ers star Bosa for wearing a Make America Great Again hat on live TV earlier this season.
During weeks 13 and 14 of the season, NFL players can wear specially designed cleats to support causes close to them through the ‘My Cause My Cleats’ initiative.
The Tampa-born NFL star, 27, had “Free” written on the outside of his shoes in red and green Palestine colors, with messages written on the side.
One cleat read: “Surely to Allah we belong and to Him we will all return,” while the other read: “At least 41,788 Palestinians killed.” It is estimated that more than 10,000 people are buried under the rubble. 96,794 injured.”
Al-Shaair is a practicing Muslim and he joined the Texans in March on a three-year, $34 million contract.
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Another urged the NFL to suspend him, but others defended him, writing, “Religion of Peace.”
Even more fans brought up Bosa’s recent fine for wearing a Donald Trump MAGA hat and speculated about the punishment Al-Shaair will face for his own political message.
Al-Shaair wore pro-Palestine boots on Sunday before being ejected for fighting in Jacksonville
The outside of the cleats featured the word “Free,” written in the colors of the Palestinian flag
The cleats can be seen on Al-Shaair’s feet as he hits Trevor Lawrence and is sent flying
The linebacker first made headlines on Sunday with a brutal hit on Jaguars QB Lawrence, leaving him motionless on the turf and sparking a huge brawl between the teams.
Lawrence ran down for a first down and slid to give himself up to the play. Al-Shaair didn’t stop and delivered a vicious blow to the quarterback’s upper body and helmet.
As soon as the goal was scored, tight end Evan Engram is the first to start pushing Al-Shaair, while several others from both teams are involved in the scrum seconds later.
Lawrence was eventually taken away and alert, while Al-Shaair was ejected from the match.
Lawrence was ruled out of the game shortly afterward due to a concussion, with Mac Jones replacing him at quarterback.
Jacksonville’s Jarrian Jones was also ejected from the game, while Engram was assessed a 15-yard penalty for being the first to engage Al-Shaair in combat.
Al-Shaair had to be removed from the field by stadium security and Texas staff after fans at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville pelted him with trash.
Before Al-Shaair left the field, he became involved in a shouting match with Jaguars offensive lineman Brandon Scherff, which almost led to a second brawl.
“Trevor Lawrence suffered a significant traumatic brain injury (#TBI) here. He’s showing a clear “screen reaction” which means he’s been knocked unconscious with a #concussion and deeper parts of his brain aren’t working properly. I wish him the best,” Chris Nowinski, founder of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, said on social media.