NBA star Kyrie Irving said he would cover an $11,941 fine that the NFL imposed on Houston Texans Pro Bowl linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair for writing Hind Rajab, the name of a Palestinian girl killed by Israeli forces, on his eyeblack during Sunday\u2019s game.<\/p>\n
Irving said Wednesday on social media<\/a> that he would \u201ctake care of his fine.\u201d<\/p>\n The NFL fined Al-Shaair, who is Muslim, a similar amount last season when he wrote \u201cSTOP THE GENOCIDE\u201d on his eyeblack<\/a> during a playoff game in January and an appearance on ESPN.\u00a0<\/p>\n According to the NFL rulebook<\/a>, players are \u201cprohibited from wearing, displaying, or otherwise conveying personal messages either in writing or illustration, unless such message has been approved in advance by the League office.\u201d The rule also states that the league \u201cwill not grant permission\u201d to players displaying a message \u201cto political activities or causes, other non-football events, causes or campaigns, or charitable causes or campaigns.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Irving, who plays for the Dallas Mavericks, has been outspoken in his support for Palestinian causes. He was also at the center of an antisemitism scandal in 2022<\/a> after he shared an antisemitic film online and initially refused to apologize. He was subsequently suspended and fined, and he issued an apology.<\/p>\n Rajab was five years old when she was killed along with six members of her family in a 2024 shooting that the Israeli Defense Force is investigating.<\/a> \u201cThe Voice Of Hind Rajab,\u201d a documentary about the killing, was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe, and won a top prize at last year\u2019s Venice Film Festival<\/a>.<\/p>\n