U.S.

Cal coach says the son of Afghan refugee Firdaus Aimak was called a “terrorist” by a fan.

ikramshoukat16 November 23, 2023

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Cal coach says the son of Afghan refugee Firdaus Aimak was called a "terrorist" by a fan.

Berkeley, California. (AP) – Firdaus Aimak, whose parents were Afghan refugees, was called a “terrorist” by a fan after he allegedly attacked California basketball coach Mark Madsen. game against UTEP This week at the SoCal Challenge.

“Throughout and after Monday’s game, Firdaus Aimak was subjected to hateful and insulting comments from a fan, including calling him a terrorist,” Madsen said Wednesday night after the game. The Bears lost to Tulane In the tournament. “I have asked the SoCal Challenge tournament director to conduct a formal investigation and remove this fan from the building.”

Aimaq went into the stands to confront the annoying fan, who was hovering over him and pointing his finger in his face, in an exchange that lasted about 10 seconds after the loss to UTEP in San Juan Capistrano, Calif.

“Firdaus and I had an important conversation (Wednesday) about how he needs to maintain his composure no matter what happens in the game or what is said to him directly,” Madsen said. “I am disturbed that Firdaus was on the receiving end of such language, and I am disappointed that he confronted this fan in the stands.

“Firdaus understands my expectations regarding the way he conducts himself as a student-athlete. Consequences related to this situation will be managed internally.”

The 6-foot-11 Aimaq averaged 17.2 points and 9.7 rebounds in his first season at Cal, and he transferred from Texas Tech after playing at Utah Valley, where he also played with Madsen and Mercer.

Emak attended Steveston-London High School, a public high school in Richmond, British Columbia. His family returned to Canada after fleeing the Soviet war in Afghanistan more than 30 years ago.