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Aziz Abdul Disqualified for Headbutt at Commonwealth Games

The referee's field-of-play ruling ended his medal bid, awarded England's Damar Thomas a guaranteed podium place, and prompted public allegations of racial bias that Commonwealth Sport has rejected.

Overview

  • Aziz Abdul was disqualified by the referee for a headbutt in the third round of his super‑heavyweight bout in Glasgow, with officials recording three separate fouls before the bout was stopped on Wednesday.
  • Before the final foul Abdul had been given a standing count in round one and penalised for punching out of a clinch in round two, leaving him behind on the judges' cards when the head movement was ruled illegal.
  • After the decision Abdul angrily accused officials of bias and used an explicit racial slur when referring to his opponent, statements that drew widespread attention and further controversy.
  • Donald Rukare, president of Commonwealth Sport, said the disqualification was a field‑of‑play decision and rejected claims of discrimination while World Boxing declined to comment.
  • The result advances Damar Thomas to the semi‑finals and guarantees him at least a Commonwealth medal, and the episode was amplified by Abdul's pre‑fight references to his grandfather Idi Amin and his stated ambition to be 'the new king of Scotland.'