Lions ban fan for racist comment about anthem protesters

The Detroit Lions have banned a fan who posted a racist social media photo of two African-American fans sitting out the national anthem before the team's Week 1 game against the Arizona Cardinals, the team confirmed to ESPN's Michael Rothstein.

The fan posted the photo with a caption reading "Ignorant n-----s" on SnapChat, which then made rounds on other social media sites. The Lions took the fan's tickets and issued a statement Thursday.

Providing our fans with a safe and enjoyable experience at all Ford Field events is of the utmost importance and an absolute priority for our organization. A core component of our guest conduct policy is the expectation that all fans are respectful and considerate to each other regardless of their personal beliefs or differences. With respect to the issue in question, the Detroit Lions and Ford Field do not comment on specifics related to any alleged guest incident(s) or altercations at games or other stadium events.

"I think it was handled appropriately and I think those things happen sometimes," head coach Jim Caldwell said.

Several Lions players, including safety Glover Quin, defensive end Akeem Spence, and running back Ameer Abdullah, all expressed disdain for the fan's actions.