NFL Muslim player wore cleats displaying "Free Palestine" during a controversial play on the quarterback that resulted in a concussion

Image: Jihad Watch

Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair wore cleats with “Free Palestine” written on them, along with Hamas propaganda, during Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. In that game, Al-Shaair was ejected for a rough hit on quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who suffered a concussion as a result, prompting an on-field altercation between the two teams.

Sharp-eyed fans spotted the “FREE” slogan on Al-Shaair’s cleats, which were designed in the colors of the Palestinian flag. These cleats were part of the NFL’s “My Cause My Cleats” program, intended to raise funds for the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, as reported on the Houston Texans’ website. However, the fund has drawn criticism for its associations with groups linked to Hamas, according to NGO Monitor.

The cleats also displayed a Quranic quote and the phrase “at least 41,788 Palestinians killed,” referencing a statistic from the Gaza Health Ministry, which is under Hamas control. Al-Shaair began wearing the cleats after the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 Israelis.

After the game, Al-Shaair apologized to Lawrence but claimed his critics were motivated by racism and Islamophobia. In his message, he wrote, “To the rest of the people who I’ve been called every single name in the book from reporters with their hands ready for a story to find their villain, 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.” The message was titled “All Praise to Allah.”

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)