Islamic group calls out Jets for firing Robert Saleh after wearing Lebanon pin amid Israel war

The Council connected American–Islamic Relations (CAIR) released a statement connected Tuesday addressing the firing of erstwhile New York Jets caput manager Robert Saleh. 

CAIR called connected the Jets and proprietor Woody Johnson to explicate reports that Saleh was escorted retired of the gathering by information pursuing his firing, and besides brought up the information that Saleh was fired conscionable days aft wearing a pin with the Lebanese emblem amid ongoing attacks connected the federation by Israel. 

Saleh is of Lebanese descent and was the archetypal Muslim caput manager successful NFL history.

"We commend Coach Robert Saleh for making past arsenic the archetypal American Muslim caput manager successful NFL history. Although nary 1 should leap to conclusions astir wherefore the Jets fired Coach Saleh, the study that Jets information physically escorted Saleh retired of the gathering does rise concerns astir the imaginable motive for specified antithetic hostility—especially fixed that Saleh wore a Lebanese emblem pin astatine a game just days agone and that proprietor Woody Johnson is simply a erstwhile Trump medication authoritative who has been accused of making racially charged remarks. We promote the Jets to thoroughly explicate its unusually hostile reported attraction of Coach Saleh," the connection read.

Fox News Digital has reached retired to the Jets for remark aggregate times but has not received a effect astatine the clip of publication. 

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Head manager Robert Saleh and Owner Woody Johnson of the New York Jets interact during New York Jets Mandatory Minicamp astatine Atlantic Health Jets Training Center connected June 11, 2024 successful Florham Park, New Jersey.   (Luke Hales/Getty Images)

Both of Saleh's parents were calved successful Lebanon and immigrated to the United States up of his commencement successful 1979. Saleh antecedently wore the Lebanese emblem connected his limb during a crippled against the Giants, conscionable weeks aft Hamas terrorists attacked Israel connected Oct. 7, 2023.

Saleh wore that spot during the week that NFL enforcement vice president of nine concern Peter O'Reilly released a connection encouraging players to correspond their practice via decals to the backmost of their helmets with their flags, portion coaches added a spot to their squad gear. 

Saleh's determination to deterioration the spot successful London connected Sunday came amid Israel's ongoing strikes connected Lebanon and Gaza arsenic it seeks to combat Hamas and Hezbollah. 

CAIR's constituent that Johnson "has been accused of making racially charged remarks," references an probe successful 2020 that ne'er confirmed whether Johnson made those remarks. Johnson was accused of making racist and sexist comments to unit portion serving arsenic an ambassador to the United Kingdom nether the Trump administration. Johnson was investigated successful July 2020 by the State Department watchdog aft the allegations.

Johnson denied the allegations successful a station connected the authoritative X (then known arsenic Twitter) relationship for the U.S. ambassador to the U.K. that aforesaid month.

FORMER JETS QUARTERBACK REVISITS AWKWARD HUG BETWEEN ROBERT SALEH, ARRON RODGERS AFTER FIRING

New York Jets proprietor Woody Johnson looks connected earlier a crippled against the Pittsburgh Steelers astatine Acrisure Stadium connected October 2, 2022 successful Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

"I person followed the ethical rules and requirements of my bureau astatine each times. These mendacious claims of insensitive remarks astir contention and sex are wholly inconsistent with my longstanding grounds and values," Johnson wrote. 

The investigation's findings person ne'er been made public. 

At the time, Johnson was not progressive with the Jets, arsenic helium was tending to his diplomatic duties for Trump. Still, the Jets released a connection regarding the allegations against Johnson and noted his denial of them.

"Since the Johnson household became owners of the New York Jets, the enactment has consistently and actively supported, engaged and encouraged the improvement of galore antithetic societal justice, diversity, women's, and inclusion initiatives," the squad said successful a statement. "One of our cardinal principles is treating employees, players, coaches and fans with respect and dignity, careless of their race, color, religion, oregon gender. These principles person been established by the Johnson family, which Woody implemented successful our enactment implicit the past 20 years."

Saleh was hired by the Jets successful January 2021 portion Johnson was successful the last period of his duties arsenic ambassador to the U.K. Therefore, the proprietor did not marque the last determination to prosecute Saleh. It was Johnson's brother, Christopher Johnson, who made the determination to prosecute Saleh. 

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Jets caput manager Robert Saleh arsenic Aaron Rodgers of the Jets walks disconnected the tract successful the archetypal fractional arsenic the Denver Broncos edged the New York Jets 10-9 astatine MetLife Stadium. (Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

When Trump near bureau and Woody Johnson returned to his duties arsenic Jets owner, helium kept Saleh employed for 3 consecutive seasons, nary of which resulted successful trips to the playoffs oregon winning records. Saleh went 20-36 with New York and ne'er won much than 7 games a twelvemonth portion astatine the helm.

Then, erstwhile Saleh was fired connected Tuesday, the manager was reportedly escorted retired of the squad installation by security, according to aggregate reports. The astir caller caput manager to beryllium fired by the Jets, Adam Gase, was fired aft the decision of his 2nd play and was reportedly not removed by security. 

The Jets were disconnected to a 2-3 commencement this twelvemonth aft losing to the Minnesota Vikings 23-17 successful London connected Sunday, arsenic New York is among the astir penalized teams successful the league this year. The Jets person struggled this twelvemonth contempt seasoned prima backmost Aaron Rodgers starting each 5 games this season.

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