Cal Issues Statement Regarding Fardaws Aimaq-Fan Confrontation at SoCal Challenge
Cal Issues Statement Regarding Fardaws Aimaq-Fan Confrontation at SoCal Challenge
Cal head coach Mark Madsen states Aimaq was subject of abusive language during the Cal-UTEP game
California forward Fardaws Aimaq confronted a fan at the Pavilion earlier this week, where the Golden Bears are currently competing in the pre-season SoCal Challenge tournament.
“Throughout and after Monday’s game, Fardaws Aimaq was allegedly subjected to abhorrent and offensive comments from a fan — including being called a terrorist,” California head coach Mark Madsen said in a statement provided to Write for California. “I have asked the SoCal Challenge tournament director that a formal investigation be conducted and that this fan be barred from the premises.”
In a video posted Wednesday morning on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, Aimaq walks up to the bleachers to confront a fan at The Pavilion. The basketball player can be seen towering over the spectator in the video.
The video has been shared widely on X and elsewhere online. One video, posted by X user @JustASportGuy, a self-described “TTU alum,” has been viewed on X more than 65,000 times by Wednesday afternoon. The user shared the 13-second video but did not take it.
Before transferring to California, Aimaq played at Texas Tech in the 2022 season.
A few steps from the top of the bleachers, the six-year Cal transfer asks, “Do you want to talk? I’ll talk.”
The basketball player then reaches the top of the stairs and repeats himself twice — “Do you want to talk? Do you want to talk?” — as fans walk by to exit the arena after the conclusion of the Cal v. UTEP basketball game earlier this week.
In the video, Aimaq lays on the expletives at a man wearing a white shirt, saying, “You want to talk some s—t? I’ll slap the f—k out of you, b—h!” as he points his finger in the fan’s face.
An unseen bystander shouts, “Hey, hey, hey, hey” in an attempt to de-escalate the situation.
A UTEP fan says, “You’re supposed to be a role model, dude.” Aimaq is then seen walking down the stairs toward the basketball court.
As the Texas Tech transfer leaves, the same orange UTEP gear-clad passerby can be seen saying in the video, “Grow up, dude. Grow up. That’s why you lose.”
The California Golden Bears lost to the UTEP Miners in a game that tipped off after 10 p.m. Pacific and finished in the early hours on Tuesday. UTEP senior Tae Hardy made a three-pointer to ice the 75-72 upset as time expired. The buzzer-beater helped the Miners land its first upset over a “Power Five” conference team in three years and maintain a perfect 5-0 record.
California, now 2-3, has struggled in head coach Mark Madsen’s first season at the helm of the Golden Bears. The UTEP defeat is the team’s second straight. Last week, the Golden Bears lost a close game at home against the Montana State Bobcats.
California plays the Tulane Green Wave in the SoCal Challenge’s consolation game Wednesday night. The UTEP Miners and Bradley Braves tip off before the Cal game in the championship game.
“Fardaws and I had an important conversation today about how he needs to maintain his composure regardless of what takes place in a game or what is said to him directly,” Coach Madsen said. “The consequences related to this situation will be managed internally.”
In addition to this fan being a racist jackass, shame on the fans around him and tournament officials in the stadium for allowing that to take place throughout the game.
A racist in Orange County- there’s a first.
If coach Madsen is reflecting what really happened (not just what some twitter user posted wo context), then I support our player.
If just simple heckling, then the reaction is too much.
Overall, Sounds like free speech was confronted by free speech.