Cal basketball star Fardaws Aimaq confronts fan ‘after being called a ”terrorist” during loss to UTEP’: Bears coach Mark Madsen blasts ‘abhorrent and offensive comments’ aimed at Canadian-born son of Afghan refugees

California Golden Bears senior center Fardaws Aimaq was seen confronting a fan following Monday’s SoCal Challenge tournament game, but only after he was allegedly on the receiving end of racial verbal abuse.

The incident took place after Cal’s last-second defeat to UTEP in San Juan Capistrano, California. Aimaq was seen walking into the crowd, where he got into a heated confrontation with the fan. 

‘You wanna talk? You wanna talk?’ Aimaq asked before sticking his finger in the significantly smaller man’s face.

Someone is then heard telling Aimaq: ‘Grow up, dude. That’s why you lose.’

But on Wednesday, Cal coach and former Los Angeles Lakers forward Mark Madsen revealed that Aimaq had allegedly been called a ‘terrorist.’

Fardaws Aimaq is seen playing for Texas Tech last February before transferring to Cal 

Cal coach and former Lakers forward Mark Madsen (right) released a statement afterwards

‘Throughout and after Monday’s game, Fardaws Aimaq was allegedly subjected to abhorrent and offensive comments from a fan – including being called a terrorist,’ Madsen said in a team statement. ‘I have asked the SoCal Challenge tournament director that a formal investigation be conducted and that this fan be barred from the premises.’

While the 47-year-old two-time NBA champion took issue with the fan, he refused to absolve Aimaq for going into the crowd after the loss.

‘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,’ Madsen continued.

‘I am disturbed that Fardaws was allegedly on the receiving end of such language, and I’m disappointed that he confronted this fan in the stands. Fardaws understands my expectations for how he as a student-athlete conducts himself.’

Madsen did not announce any punishment for Aimaq: ‘The consequences related to this situation will be managed internally!’

The child of Afghan refugees who fled the war-torn country in 1989, Aimaq was born in Vancouver and attending boarding school in Maine before enrolling at Mercer in 2018.

Aimaq, a black belt in martial arts, has since transferred to Utah Valley, Texas Tech and, finally, Cal.