Michigan Senate Candidate Questions Football’s Ethics and Safety

Abdul El-Sayed Critiques American Football

Abdul El-Sayed, a candidate for the Michigan U.S. Senate, has publicly questioned whether American football is both ethical and safe. According to an audio clip that resurfaced online, the Democrat sees ties between the sport and issues like chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), toxic masculinity, and violence.

If you listen closely to the podcast episode from 2023, you’ll hear El-Sayed asking, “What is it about this brutal sport that keeps us coming back?” He goes on to ponder whether a safe and ethical version of the sport could exist. He asks, “What would need to change?”

His criticism isn’t new. Earlier this month, he highlighted the significant financial cost associated with attending NFL games in a video. He expressed concerns regarding high ticket prices and additional costs for concessions.

Interestingly, despite his critical stance, El-Sayed played football throughout his youth and was captain of his high school team.

Financial Concerns and Ethics

In the video, El-Sayed remarks: “It’s gotten way too expensive.” He argues that football, which is supposed to unite people, instead separates them based on wealth. He notes that, although many stadiums benefit from taxpayer subsidies, ticket prices have continued to soar.

He also touched upon the deeper issues embedded within football’s culture in an October 2021 write-up. He critiqued the toxic masculinity prevalent in America’s most popular sport and men’s sports culture, describing it as “way deeper than a few emails or a Jay-Z turnaround.”

While he is critical of some aspects of male sports culture, El-Sayed defends masculinity. He has chided Democrats for belittling men and often shares fitness-related content aiming to connect with male voters.

Fox News Digital has reached out to El-Sayed for comments.