New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh caused controversy during the team’s NFL game against the Minnesota Vikings in London on Sunday. Saleh was seen wearing a Lebanese flag on the sleeve of his team hoodie, below the Nike logo. This decision raised eyebrows as Israeli bombing continued in Beirut, Lebanon, where Saleh’s Lebanese heritage traces back to. The Hezbollah stronghold in south Beirut was hit by more than 30 strikes overnight, with smoke still billowing from the site after dawn.
Saleh had previously worn a similar patch last October but his choice to wear it again on Sunday sparked division among NFL fans. Some were furious at his clothing choice, while others defended his right to express pride in his heritage. The Jets suffered humiliation during the first half of Sunday’s game against the Vikings and some social media users claimed that Saleh’s political stance would not help his job security.
Despite criticism, there were those who supported Saleh and highlighted his Lebanese-American background. Born in Dearborn, Michigan to parents who emigrated from Lebanon before he was born, Saleh became the first Muslim head coach in NFL history upon being hired by the Jets in 2021.
The situation between Israel and Hezbollah has escalated recently with airstrikes lighting up Beirut’s skyline and explosions echoing across southern suburbs. At least 1,400 people have been killed and 1.2 million displaced from their homes as a result of this conflict.
It is important to note that these reports cannot be independently verified due to conflicting information from both sides involved.