A B.C.-born basketball participant on the College of California Berkeley went into the stands Monday to confront a fan who allegedly referred to as him a terrorist.
Following Cal’s loss to UTEP on Monday within the SoCal Problem held in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., head coach Mark Madsen mentioned in a press release that Fardaws Aimaq “was allegedly subjected to abhorrent and offensive feedback from a fan — together with being referred to as a terrorist.”
“I’m disturbed that Fardaws was allegedly on the receiving finish of such language and I am dissatisfied he confronted this fan within the stands,” Madsen mentioned.
A video posted on X, previously Twitter, exhibits Aimaq approaching a fan within the bleachers. Aimaq may be heard saying, “You wanna discuss?” earlier than leaning towards the person and pointing. The confrontation lasts lower than 10 seconds.
Cal participant Fardaws Aimaq climbed into the stands after a recreation 👀🍿 <a href=”https://t.co/3LCIhtA2gN”>pic.twitter.com/3LCIhtA2gN</a>
—@CBBcontent
The six-foot-11 Aimaq graduated from Steveston-London Secondary in Richmond. His dad and mom are from Afghanistan and got here to Canada as refugees.
Madsen mentioned he is requested the SoCal Problem match director to examine the incident and ban the fan from the premises.
The coach and former NBA participant mentioned any penalties going through Aimaq “will probably be dealt with internally.”
Aimaq’s agent indicated on social media that the 24-year-old ahead has been focused with comparable taunts previously.
“Fardaws Aimaq is the sweetest man on the earth, by no means heard of him throwing a punch or harming a fly,” Daniel Poneman wrote on X.
“However now individuals are making him out to be a thug as a result of he lastly spoke up, after years of this sort of abuse. The reactions all the time go viral, however the trigger by no means will get addressed.”
Aimaq had 23 factors and 14 rebounds in Cal’s loss to Tulane on Wednesday.
After the sport, Cal teammate Jalen Cone instructed the media he helps Aimaq.
“The issues that have been mentioned to him should not be mentioned to anybody,” Cone mentioned. “I believe he had an incredible recreation tonight … That simply exhibits who he’s, how he can bounce again from adversity. He is been doing that his complete life.”
