DETROIT — The Lions confirmed to ESPN that the workforce has revoked the season tickets of a fan who had a pregame verbal altercation with Packers coach Matt LaFleur at Ford Discipline final week.
A TV digicam caught the top of a heated trade between LaFleur and Fahad Yousif, a Lions fan from Farmington Hills, Michigan, who was a part of the group holding the large flag for the nationwide anthem final Thursday night time.
LaFleur might be seen yelling on the fan, however stated his actions had been provoked.
“I’ve by no means been part of one thing like that,” LaFleur stated following Sunday’s 34-31 loss to the Lions. “He was speaking junk to our gamers, giving them the throat slash signal. You are attempting to de-escalate it, after which he will get in my face. I assumed it was fairly unsportsmanlike.
“I’ve by no means seen that. I have been on many fields, and normally they police that a lot better. I assumed it was an smug fan that needed to get in part of the motion,” he stated. “I wish to see safety, or one thing step in there and get him out of there, as a result of it is, he should not be doing that. Yeah.”
Yousif confirmed the workforce’s choice to The Detroit Information and stated he is “devastated” by the transfer after being contacted by way of electronic mail.
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“The largest intestine punch, man,” Yousif advised The Detroit Information on Thursday. “Simply waking up and seeing that electronic mail and never having the ability to discuss to someone in individual, it was a horrible feeling. “I haven’t got my likelihood to offer my aspect of the story or something.”
The 12-1 Lions are off to their finest begin in franchise historical past, with 11 consecutive victories. On Sunday, they’ll return to Ford Discipline to host the Payments (10-3) in a matchup of Tremendous Bowl contenders. Yousif, a lifelong Lions fan, stated the workforce’s success is “making it damage much more.”
“This has been my id my entire life, and it is simply ripped away from me over a small incident. It positively might’ve been prevented on my finish,” Yousif advised The Detroit Information.
“I’d let [the Lions] know I am so sorry that I embarrassed this workforce. Like, this actually wasn’t my intention. I’d apologize to anybody and do something I might to get again within the stadium, supporting my workforce.”
ESPN’s Rob Demovsky contributed to this report.
