On Friday, the Boston Celtics released an official statement in regards to the incident that resulted in a fan being banned from TD Garden, the Celtics’ home arena, for two seasons. On Thursday, Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes would detail the situation for the first time, one in which Golden State Warriors big man DeMarcus Cousins would tell in-arena security officials that he was called a racial slur by a Celtics fan on January 26.
Many were critical of Boston for only giving the fan a two-year ban, which seemed lenient not only because of the allegations but because in light of the Utah Jazz issuing two lifetime bans to fans who directed racially-charged remarks towards Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Russell Westbrook. However, the Celtics defended their punishment of the fan by stating that after an “exhaustive investigation” but “none of the interviewed parties were able to verify the use of racially offensive language.”
Per NESN‘s Erin Walsh:
On January 26, we were alerted by DeMarcus Cousins that a fan had used racially offensive language towards him. Immediately upon receiving the complaint, the fan, who was a minor, was ejected. The following day, per our policy regarding any reported fan behavior complaint, the team initiated an exhaustive investigation of the incident that included reviewing video from multiple angles and identifying and interviewing numerous fans, security personnel, and police in the immediate vicinity.
In the course of this investigation, we were able to conclude that the fan had been verbally abusive toward the Golden State bench, but none of the interviewed parties were able to verify the use of racially offensive language, and video evidence proved inconclusive. Based on our investigation, the fan was issued a two-year ban from all Celtics games, and is also subject to lifetime probation pursuant to our policy. The punishment for any corroborated discriminatory language used towards any player, employee, or fan at a Celtics home game is a lifetime ban.
We were in contact with the Golden State Warriors through this process, sharing our action plan and the final discipline. We express the deepest regrets that this incident happened to DeMarcus, as such behavior violates everything the Boston Celtics have always stood for.
It’s worth noting that Cousins, who has yet to comment publicly on the ban or the Celtics response, states that the fan in question “muttered” the offensive slur towards him. Such an action would seem to indicate a situation in which the people within proximity of him wouldn’t have heard the slur as clearly as Cousins. Especially with most fans’ attention turned towards the match between Boston and Golden State.
Nonetheless, as the Celtics were unable to necessary evidence to ban the fan, it’s understandable as to why they issued a two-year ban. The lifetime probationary period and the strict policy of issuing lifetime bans for discriminatory behavior do seem suitable for the fan and the fans at large, respectively.
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