Victoria police have been drafted in to question Australian Open spectators who unveiled symbols in support of Russia and president Vladimir Putin during this week’s tennis action.
One supporter was seen sporting a t-shirt with ‘Z’ on the front, while others gathered and chanted outside Rod Laver Arena.
Aussie Open chiefs were forced into a tricky position when a Russian flag was brought to the match between Kamila Rakhimova and Ukrainian star Kateryna Baindl earlier in the tournament.
At the time, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, head of the Embassy of Ukraine in Australia, tweeted: “I strongly condemn the public display of the Russian flag during the game of the Ukrainian tennis player Kateryna Baindl at the Australian Open today. I call on Tennis Australia to immediately enforce its ‘neutral flag’ policy.”
That prompted a tightening of restrictions as tournament organizers moved to ban all Russian and Belarusian flags within the grounds of Melbourne Park, with signs reading: “Our initial policy was that fans could bring them in but could not use them to cause disruption.
“Yesterday we had an incident where a flag was placed courtside. The ban will be effective immediately. We will continue to work with the players and our fans to ensure that this is the best possible environment to enjoy tennis.”
Things kicked up a notch on Wednesday as a group of supporters unveiled more Russian flags, as well as t-shirts in support of Putin’s Ukrainian invasion, which has killed thousands and displaced multiple millions.
One fan removed a t-shirt to reveal another one underneath sporting a ‘Z’, which has become known as a pro-war symbol in Russia.
“Our initial policy was that fans could bring them in but could not use them to cause disruption. Yesterday we had an incident where a flag was placed courtside. The ban will be effective immediately. We will continue to work with the players and our fans to ensure that this is the best possible environment to enjoy tennis,”
