Brigham Young University apologizes, bans fan over racist slurs during volleyball match

By Matt Foster, CNN

Updated 0206 GMT (1006 HKT) August 28, 2022

Brigham Young University on Saturday apologized for racist comments made by a fan during a women's volleyball match between BYU and Duke on Friday evening.

(CNN)Brigham Young University issued an apology on Saturday for racist comments made by a fan during a women's volleyball match between BYU and Duke at the Utah university on Friday evening.

The godmother of Duke volleyball player Rachel Richardson said in a tweet that Richardson, who is Black, was called racial slurs during the game at BYU's Smith Fieldhouse in Provo. Lesa Pamplin wrote, «My Goddaughter is the only black starter for Dukes volleyball team. While playing yesterday, she was called a n***er every time she served.»Read MoreThe post continued, «She was threatened by a white male that told her to watch her back going to the team bus. A police officer had to be put by their bench.»BYU Athletics did not confirm the specifics of the incident but announced they had banned a fan from all athletic venues and <a href=«https://twitter.com/BYUCougars/status/1563616547880329216?ref_src=» https: target="_blank">posted an apology on Twitter. «All of God's children deserve love and respect, and BYU Athletics is completely committed to leading out in abandoning attitudes and actions of prejudice of any kind and rooting out racism,» it said. «When a student-athlete or a fan comes to a BYU sporting event, we expect that they will be treated with love and respect and feel safe on our campus. It is for this reason BYU has banned a fan who was identified by Duke during last night's volleyball match from all BYU athletic venues,» according to the statement. «We wholeheartedly apologize to Duke University and