An Eagles fan who was caught on video making vulgar remarks to a Packers fan during the NFL playoffs Sunday faces banishment by the team and was fired by his employer.
Fans have been behaving badly at sporting events for quite some time, perhaps even dating back to the Colosseum in the Roman Empire, but with the advent of camera phones and social media the consequences for actions have come into greater focus.
After the Eagles defeated the Packers 22–10 on Sunday, Green Bay fan Alexander Basara posted a video on X in which an Eagles fan sitting in the row behind him called Basara’s fiancé an “ugly dumb c***.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, the video had been viewed more than 25 million times.
The heckler was quickly identified, and his employer, BCT Partners, a New Jersey–based management consulting firm that says on its website it seeks to “harness the power of diversity, insights, and innovation to transform lives, accelerate equity, and create lasting change,” issued a statement on X/Twitter.
After an investigation, BCT Partners said on Tuesday night it decided to “part ways” with the employee, “effective immediately.”
“We condemn our former employee’s conduct in the strongest possible terms. This individual’s conduct and language were vile, disgusting, unacceptable, and horrific and have no place in our workplace and society,” the company said in a statement posted to Twitter/X. “At the same time, again to be true to our values, we can condemn the actions without condemning the individual. None of us deserve to be remembered for actions taken on our worst day.”
A source told Front Office Sports that the fan in question has been barred from all future events at Lincoln Financial Field.
An Eagles spokesperson declined to comment and a representative of BCT Partners did not respond to a request for comment.
Eagles fans have been reputed over the years to be especially hostile to visitors.
One X user, Andy Swan, joked earlier this week about airing a “Netflix series where MMA champions go undercover to Eagles games wearing the opposing team’s jersey.”
In recent months, there have been serious consequences for sports fans caught misbehaving on camera.
Two Yankees fans were barred from the World Series after brazenly attempting to interfere with Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts on a fly ball in foul territory. They have since received an indefinite ban from MLB.
In October, Ravens fan Jack Callis was charged with first-degree assault and multiple counts of second-degree assault after wantonly attacking Commanders fans on the street after a game.
