'I've never seen that': Packers coach Matt LaFleur explains heated confrontation with Lions fan

Matt LaFleur's night got off to a tense start before his team even kicked off Thursday.

During the pregame festivities, the Green Bay Packers coach got in a heated confrontation with a Detroit Lions fan who was on the field to help hold up the American flag during the national anthem. LaFleur and the fan – who was wearing a Brian Branch jersey – yelled and pointed at one another before a Packers staffer stepped between them.

Several Packers players then approached before officials broke up the confrontation.

"I've never been a part of something like that," LaFleur said after the Packers' 34-31 loss. "He was talking junk to our players, giving them the throat-slash sign. You're trying to de-escalate it, and then he gets in my face. So I thought it was pretty unsportsmanlike."

LaFleur added that he wished that the fan had been removed before things got even more heated.

"I've never seen that. I've been on many fields, and usually they police that much better. I thought it was an arrogant fan that, you know, wanted to get in on part of the action. I would like to see security step in there and get him out of there, because he shouldn't be doing that."

The loss dropped the Packers to 9-4, putting them three games back of the Lions in the NFC North race.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Packers coach Matt LaFleur explains fiery confrontation with Lions fan