The diehard Lions fan who went viral over his on-field pregame shouting match with Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur before last week's prime-time game has had his season tickets revoked.
The Lions and the fan, Fahad Yousif from Farmington Hills, have confirmed the team's decision, which was sent to him in an email earlier this week. The email said his tickets have been revoked "indefinitely."
And Yousif said he's "devastated."
"The biggest gut punch, man," Yousif said in a phone interview with The Detroit News on Thursday. "Just waking up and seeing that email and not being able to talk to somebody in person, it was a terrible feeling.
"I don't have my chance to give my side of the story or anything."
The altercation between LaFleur, the Packers' sixth-year head coach, and Yousif, a three-year season-ticket holder, went viral when cameras caught the interaction before the national anthem prior to last Thursday's game at Ford Field. Yousif was on the field as one of the holders of the American flag for the anthem, a perk the Lions allow for season-ticket holders. Yousif had to arrive at Ford Field at 4 p.m., more than four hours before the game, to rehearse.
But things went sour quickly, when Yousif, admittedly, got caught up in the moment and stated talking trash to the Packers, saying, "You're going down."
LaFleur took exception and went on to the field to confront Yousif, before the coach was pulled away by assistant coaches and receiver Jayden Reed, the former Michigan State star. But LaFleur wasn't done. He turned back around, ripped off his head set and started gesturing at Yousif again, before the confrontation - which was only verbal - finally ended. LaFleur was not happy about it when asked after the game, a Lions' 34-31 win.
"I've never been a part of something like that. He was talking junk to our players, giving them the throat-slash sign and, you know, you're trying to de-escalate it, and then he gets in my face," said LaFleur, a native of Mount Pleasant who played in college at Western Michigan and Saginaw Valley State and coached at Central Michigan. "I thought it was pretty unsportsmanlike ... I've never seen that. I've been on many fields, and usually, they police that much better.
"I thought it was an arrogant fan that, you know, wanted to get in part of the action. I would like to see security or something step in there and get him out of there."
Security did step in, actually, after the incident played out as the house lights were off for the anthem. Yousif, wearing a blue Brian Branch jersey at the game, said he was told by Ford Field employees that he could no longer participate in the anthem, and he was sent back to his seats.
Just before halftime, Ford Field employees approached him, and eventually ejected him from the game.
Then, word came this week from the Lions, who are preparing for a big showdown with the Buffalo Bills on Sunday at Ford Field, that Yousif's season tickets have been revoked. Yousif said he made several calls to his season-ticket representative, before finally getting them on the phone Thursday morning.
The conversation didn't go well, he said. It basically turned into a bunch of one-word responses from the rep.
"Basically told me to kick rocks," said Yousif, who was told he will be refunded for any unused tickets. Yousif was told by the Lions that the decision was final.
Yousif acknowledged he was in the wrong over the incident, though he believes LaFleur shares some responsibility, too. Yousif said he didn't curse at LaFleur. The Lions said Thursday they would have no further comment on the matter.
Yousif, 30, said he's been a diehard Lions fan "my whole life," and his earliest memories are attending games at 10 years old. Even before he bought season tickets - he has, or had, two seats, one for him and his wife - he would attend five or six games a year. He hasn't missed a home opener in about 15 years. He has a Lions tattoo on his leg.
Getting the revocation notice from the Lions this year, of all years, with Detroit favored to win the Super Bowl for the first time ever, makes the whole situation even tougher to swallow.
"I know, I know, that's making it hurt even more," Yousif said. "This has been my identity my whole life, and it's just ripped away from me over a small incident. It definitely could've been avoided on my end.
"I would let (the Lions) know I'm so sorry that I embarrassed this team. Like, this really wasn't my intention. I would apologize to anyone and do anything I could to get back in the stadium, supporting my team."
