Eagle-eyed NFL fans targeted Azeez Al-Shaair on Sunday night after spotting a controversial political message on his cleats before the Texans-Jaguars game.
The linebacker was already in the bad books of many for a brutal hit on quarterback Trevor Lawrence that led to his ejection from the game.
And now more and more fans are flocking in after noticing the bold “Free Palestine” message on his shoes.
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.
Azeez Al-Shaair wore pro-Palestine boots on Sunday before being sent away for fighting
The outside of the cleats featured the word “Free,” written in the colors of the Palestinian flag
The cleats are seen on Al-Shaair’s feet as he collides with Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence
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Another urged the NFL to suspend him, but others defended him, writing, “Religion of Peace.”
Even more fans brought up Nick Bosa’s recent fine for wearing a Donald Trump MAGA hat and speculated about what punishment Al-Shaair will receive for his own political message.
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.
Players from the Texans and Jaguars got into an argument after Lawrence was hit by Al-Shaair in the game
Al-Shaair had to be restrained by his teammates as he tried to fight off Jacksonville players
Lawrence lay motionless on the turf before being carted away and not returning to the match
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.