Birmingham Stallions wide receiver Justyn Ross was involved in an altercation with Louisville Kings fans during halftime of the UFL's Week 1 season opener on March 27. Ross threw a drink at a fan, had to be restrained twice by teammates, and then caught the game-winning touchdown less than 30 minutes later.
What Happened
The Stallions were heading to the locker room at halftime when Kings fans began booing the team near the concourse area at Lynn Family Stadium. Words were exchanged between players and fans. The barrier separating the two groups — a glass divide — did not prevent contact.
Stallions linebacker Kyahva Tezino grabbed a fan's drink and poured it back toward the crowd. A fan then said something directed at Ross. Ross turned, grabbed a drink, and threw it at the fan. Teammates and coaches pulled him away.
A fan then threw a drink back at Ross. Ross attempted to go back toward the crowd and had to be restrained a second time. Security stepped in. Head coach AJ McCarron also moved toward the situation to help de-escalate it.
Video of the incident was posted to X by Bosemer Media (@BosemerMedia502), credited to a user named Toohey. The clip was also shared by Bussin' With The Boys (@BussinWTB). Both posts went viral.
Ross Caught the Game-Winner
Ross remained in the game after the incident. With Birmingham trailing 13-9 and under two minutes left in the fourth quarter, quarterback Matt Corral connected with Ross on a 14-yard touchdown pass. The score gave the Stallions a 15-13 win in McCarron's first game as head coach.
Ross finished the game with 2 catches for 30 yards and 1 touchdown.
No Statement From the UFL
Neither Ross, the Stallions, the Kings, nor the UFL have issued a statement about the altercation. No fine or discipline has been reported.
The incident raised questions about fan-player separation at Lynn Family Stadium, a soccer-specific venue with a capacity of 15,304. The Kings drew 14,034 fans for their franchise debut — the first home game for one of three new UFL expansion teams in 2026.
Ross's Football Background
Ross played three seasons at Clemson. He recorded 46 catches for 1,000 yards and 9 touchdowns as a freshman in 2018, including 6 catches for 153 yards in the national championship game against Alabama. He missed the 2020 season due to Klippel-Feil syndrome, a neck and spine condition.
Ross signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2022. He appeared in 12 games over three seasons and recorded 6 catches for 53 yards. He was waived by the Chiefs in July 2025. The Stallions selected him in the UFL draft in January 2026.