El-Sayed questions ethics of football in resurfaced audio

Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed took aim at football culture, questioning whether America's most popular sport is "ethical," according to a resurfaced audio clip posted online Monday by the Republican Party.

In a 2023 podcast episode, the Michigan Democrat questioned whether American football could be considered "ethical" or "safe" due to the risk of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) for players and perceived ties to toxic masculinity and violence.

"What is it about this brutal sport that keeps us coming back?" El-Sayed is heard saying. "Is there a version of football that's actually ethical and safe? What would need to change?"

El-Sayed has questioned the sport in the past, most recently earlier this month when he released a video voicing concerns about the cost to attend NFL games.

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Abdul El-Sayed has questioned football's safety and ethics despite playing the sport growing up. (Abdul El-Sayed)

The video shows El-Sayed throwing and catching a football while questioning the high prices of tickets, in addition to money spent on concessions.

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Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed speaks to reporters on the campaign trail in Lansing, Michigan. (Fox News Digital/Paul Steinhauser)

"It's gotten way too expensive," he said. "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 noted that many football stadiums are subsidized by taxpayer funds, and yet, ticket prices continue to climb.

In October 2021, El-Sayed 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."

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The Democratic Senate hopeful played football growing up and was the captain of his high school team. He called sports his "lifeline."

Despite his criticism of what he described as the toxic elements of male sports culture, El-Sayed has also defended masculinity and chided Democrats for talking down to men, often posting fitness-related content as part of his strategy to appeal to male voters.