DETROIT (WXYZ) — The Detroit Lions fan who got into a heated exchange with Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur last week has lost his season tickets for life. He's also banned from all NFL stadiums until he takes a four-hour online conduct course.
Fahad Yousif confirmed to 7 News Detroit that the Lions emailed him and revoked his season tickets.
Watch our full interview with Yousif from last week below:
Read our original story below when we talked with Yousif
Yousif was on the field during last Thursday's Lions vs. Packers game as a perk through being a season-ticket holder, taking out the U.S. flag for the national anthem. While he was waiting to take the flag out, he started smack talking the Packers players and coach. LaFleaur was seen getting agitated during the incident, responding to Yousif.
At a post-game press conference, LaFleur addressed the altercation.
Watch LaFleur address the incident in the video below:
"I've never been a part of something like that. He was talking junk to our players, giving them the throat-slash sign, you know. You're trying to de-escalate it. And then he gets in my face," he said.
Yousif said the smack talk was all in good fun and that he wasn't expecting such a reaction from the head coach.
After the exchange, Yousif didn’t get the chance to take the flag out and was later asked to leave the stadium.
Since the incident, some fans have disagreed with Yousif's actions. Others including former Lions wide receiver Golden Tate have stood up for him.
“LaFleur what did you think was gona happen when you rolled into Ford Field on December during Thursday Night Football we were gona wash your feet and give you the red carpet? Hell no," Tate said on Instagram.
This week, Yousif received a letter from the Lions Ejections and Incident Review Committee. Because of the incident, Yousif’s season tickets have been revoked but refunded. He has to take an online conduct course if he wants to be let back into any NFL stadium and he can never be a Lions season ticket holder again.
"They just said that this decision is final... there's no appeal. There's no further tickets. I can as long as everything goes well, take the course and I can send it over to them, I would be allowed back into Ford Field, but not as a season ticket member," Yousif said.
While Yousif is disheartened, he’s apologetic and understand these steps had to be taken.
“I definitely understand. I was in the wrong, so some repercussions were taken," he said. "I've learned my lesson... that behavior is not accepted," the superfan said.
Yousif says he’s scheduled to take the conduct course and is hoping to head to the Bills game this Sunday, but this time as a regular fan. If not, he says fans have reached out from all across metro Detroit inviting him to tailgates where he can still root for his favorite team.
7 News Detroit reached out to the Lions for comment, which said: "Our policy is not to comment on specific incidents.”
