ORLANDO, Fla. — The Big 12 Conference has fined the University of Central Florida $100,000 after fans directed discriminatory chants at Brigham Young University during Saturday’s football game at UCF’s home stadium in Orlando.
The league announced the penalty Wednesday after finishing its review. Conference officials said they took into account the steps UCF took before kickoff and during the game, including removing some of the people responsible, but said that kind of behavior is not acceptable in the Big 12. The fine money is set aside for student education programs.
The release did not spell out what was chanted. Chants targeting members of the Mormon church, which sponsors BYU, were heard in the crowd during the game.
UCF athletics said it is aware of the decision and is weighing its options.
The conference also used the case to roll out a tougher policy for every member school. Under the new rules, a first confirmed incident at any game brings an automatic fine of at least $100,000 and a formal warning so the school can act right away. A second confirmed incident in the same game triggers an in-game penalty, such as a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct flag in football or a two-shot technical foul in basketball, and could add a $500,000 fine.
Fans thrown out of a game for discriminatory conduct will be barred from all of a school’s athletic events for the rest of the academic year and may also face discipline under campus conduct rules.
League officials said the Big 12 will keep working with its schools to stop this kind of conduct and to make sure the consequences carry real weight when it happens, so athletes, coaches and fans can count on a respectful setting at games.
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