Michigan Senate Candidate El-Sayed Questions Football's Ethics in Resurfaced Audio
El-Sayed, a former high school football player, voiced concerns about CTE risks and the sport's ties to toxic masculinity in a 2023 podcast.
Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has resurfaced comments questioning the ethics and safety of American football, citing concerns over chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and perceived links to toxic masculinity. The remarks were made in a 2023 podcast episode, according to audio shared by the Republican Party.
In the clip, El-Sayed asks, "What is it about this brutal sport that keeps us coming back? Is there a version of football that's actually ethical and safe? What would need to change?" He also touched on the escalating cost of attending games, suggesting that the sport, intended to unite people, is instead driving a wedge between those who can afford it and those who cannot. El-Sayed noted that many stadiums receive taxpayer subsidies, yet ticket prices continue to rise.
This is not the first time El-Sayed has raised questions about the sport. Earlier this month, he released a video expressing concerns about the financial barrier to attending NFL games. In October 2021, he wrote that "the toxic masculinity at the heart of America’s most popular sport — and men’s sports culture more generally — is way deeper than a few emails or a Jay-Z turnaround."
Despite these criticisms, El-Sayed played football growing up and captained his high school team, describing sports as his "lifeline." He has also defended masculinity and critiqued Democrats for appearing to alienate men, incorporating fitness-related content into his campaign strategy to appeal to male voters. Fox News Digital has reached out to El-Sayed for comment.