Three Denver Broncos fans were hassled by Qualcomm Stadium security over turbans this past Sunday, according to ABC News affiliate KGTV.
Verinder Malhi and his friends had driven seven hours from Fresno, Calif. to San Diego to watch their Broncos crush the Chargers on Sunday, but they initially weren't allowed in the stadium because they were wearing turbans.
"Three of my buddies, they had turbans on, and it (was like, you guys got to take the turbans off," said Malhi, via ABC News. The men were eventually let in the stadium, but a Qualcomm security supervisor stated that if they ever wanted to come back, then they couldn't wear turbans.
Turbans are garments typically worn by Sikh men, and Malhi said that people confuse them with terrorists because of them. "Everybody kind of confusing us with the turbans, because what you see on TV is mostly the terrorists they wear turbans. But our turbans is different, our faith is different our beliefs are different," said Malhi, via ABC News.
Getting into the stadium was not the only issue Malhi and his friends had to deal with this past Sunday, as a fearful fan called the San Diego police saying three men wearing turbans were fiddling with items in their trunk before leaving the parking lot.
A bombing-sniffing dog reportedly checked Malhi's vehicle, which was cleared. Malhi has since stated that they had to put a bag back in the car after realizing that they were not allowed to bring in the stadium, which is quite common in football stadiums across the country.
"It's bad, I mean, this is embarrassing for me, because we are Americans at the end of the day. And we are not supposed to be afraid of fellow Americans," said Malhi, via ABC News.
The city of San Diego is currently looking into the incident, but the Qualcomm security supervisor who hassled the men is a not a city employee.
