NBA’s Irving praises Al-Shaair’s ‘selfless act’ after Hind Rajab fine paid
Kyrie Irving says paying Azeez Al-Shaair's $11,941 NFL fine was a 'selfless act' backing the linebacker's tributes to slain Palestinian children.
NBA star Kyrie Irving has explained why he paid the NFL fine imposed on his friend Azeez Al-Shaair, praising the American football player's tributes to slain Palestinian children as a 'selfless act'.
Al-Shaair, a Houston Texans linebacker, was fined $11,941 by the NFL after wearing the name of Hind Rajab — a Palestinian girl killed by Israeli forces in Gaza — during a game. Irving, who plays for the Dallas Mavericks, responded to the news on social media by saying he would 'take care' of the fine.
'Azeez is a friend of mine,' Irving told reporters after the Mavericks' opening-night 128-110 defeat. 'He's a brother that I consider in this revolution this generation is building. It's a selfless act.'
The Black American Muslim player began the NFL season by wearing Rajab's name and has now honoured slain Palestinian children for five straight weeks, despite the fine and reported threats of removal from games. 'It's bigger to me; what's a life worth,' Al-Shaair said of the punishment.
His subsequent tributes included eight-year-old Wafa Akila, sisters Lana and Bana Ahmad, aged 12 and eight, 10-year-old Amal Abu Khater, and two-and-a-half-year-old Maryam Ghanem — all killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza, according to Al Jazeera.
'This mission is bigger than me and Azeez and we know that,' Irving said.
Source: Al Jazeera English — TrendWire reports stories in its own words; facts should be confirmed against the original source.