Prominent rivals directed Islamophobic slurs at Muslim athletes during major promotions.

Evidence

The turbulent promotion had been tainted by McGregor calling Khabib’s headscarved wife a “towel” and referring to the Muslim fighter himself as a “mad backwards cunt,” just two examples from the ugly litany of Islamophobic barbs he threw at the fighter and his faith before they collided in the octagon. The boos and expletives in the stadium drowned out the cheers from the scattered Muslim fans in the audience, many of whom—like my friend Ahmed—remained silent because “I did not want one of those crazy white fans to hit me and my younger brother.” — Khaled A. Beydoun, The New Crusades_ Islamophobia and the…, 1087