Updated 6:39 p.m.

An accounting professor and high-profile supporter of the GW Athletics program was escorted from the Smith Center Saturday for verbally confronting a referee over a foul call.

From his sideline seat on the court, Robert Kasmir yelled at the referee over a foul call on sophomore forward David Pellom, prompting his removal from the court by a member of the athletics department.

“Basically, I told the ref he was the worst ref I’d ever seen and he wasn’t worth the $1,600 dollars they were paying him and that was it,” Kasmir said. “And then he ejected me from the game.”

Associate Sports Information Director Brad Bower said Kasmir was ejected for violating the NCAA and Atlantic 10 Sportsmanship Statement.

“Profanity, racial or sexist comments, or other intimidating actions directed at officials, student-athletes, coaches or teams will not be tolerated and are grounds for removal from the site of competition,” the statement reads.

Kasmir’s ejection came after he and his family were honored during the second half for their contributions to GW Athletics. Kasmir, who received his MBA from GW in 1974, has made at least one donation to the University ranging from $10,000 to $24,999, according to financial documents. Kasmir said the ejection would not keep him from making further donations to the University in the future.

“I think the University is a great University. It has nothing to do with the University,” he said. “I think the official should never be allowed to officiate another game in the Atlantic 10, in college basketball, in the United States.”

Senior Vice Provost Robert Chernak said Kasmir did not believe he violated the sportsmanship code.

“He did get a bigger ovation when he was thrown out than when he was on the court for his donation,” Chernak said. “Actually we started to play better afterwards, so maybe we need to make it a fan a game or something.”

Kasmir was only tossed from the basketball game, not the Smith Center, as he briefly appeared at the post-game press conference. The removal does not bar him from the Smith Center.