El-Sayed Questions Ethics of Football in Resurfaced Audio

<p>Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed raised concerns about the ethics of football culture, questioning whether the sport is "ethical" or "safe" due to the risk of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) for players and its perceived connections to toxic masculinity and violence. This was highlighted in a resurfaced audio clip shared online by the Republican Party on Monday.</p><p>In a podcast episode from 2023, El-Sayed asked, "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 has previously expressed concerns about the sport, including a recent video where he discussed the high costs associated with attending NFL games.</p><p>In that video, El-Sayed is seen throwing and catching a football while criticizing the rising prices of tickets and concessions. He stated, "It's gotten way too expensive. That means that something that's supposed to bring us all together, like football, separates those who have and those who have not." He also mentioned that many football stadiums receive taxpayer funding, yet ticket prices continue to increase.</p><p>In October 2021, El-Sayed wrote about the issue of toxic masculinity in sports, stating that it is a deeper problem than just isolated incidents. He has a background in football, having played and captained his high school team, and referred to sports as his "lifeline." Despite his criticisms, El-Sayed has defended masculinity and criticized Democrats for their approach towards male voters, often sharing fitness-related content to connect with this demographic.</p><p>Fox News Digital has reached out to El-Sayed for comment.</p>