By Shrivathsa Sridhar
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – 4 supporters on the Australian Open with “inappropriate flags and symbols” are being questioned by Victoria Police following the quarter-final between Russia’s Andrey Rublev and favorite Novak Djokovic, organisers Tennis Australia stated on Wednesday.
Tennis Australia didn’t present particulars, however a video emerged on social media exhibiting a fan on the steps of Rod Laver Area holding up a Russian flag with the picture of President Vladimir Putin on it.
Russian and Belarusian flags are banned from Melbourne Park in the course of the Australian Open after a grievance from the Ukraine ambassador to the nation final week.
Belarus is a key staging floor for Russia’s struggle in Ukraine, which Moscow phrases a “particular operation”.
“4 individuals within the crowd leaving the stadium revealed inappropriate flags and symbols and threatened safety guards. Victoria Police intervened and are persevering with to query them,” Tennis Australia stated in a press release.
“The consolation and security of everyone seems to be our precedence and we work carefully with safety and authorities.”
Pictures on social media additionally confirmed one fan within the crowd in the course of the quarter-final with a big “Z” on his shirt.
Russian forces have used the letter “Z” as an figuring out image on their autos in Ukraine following the invasion. Some supporters of the invasion have additionally used the signal.
Ukraine’s Former participant Alexandr Dolgopolov urged Tennis Australia to problem a life ban for the person in a tweet.
Vasyl Myroshnychenko, Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia and New Zealand, posted an image final week exhibiting a Russian flag hanging from a bush beside a courtroom the place his compatriot Kateryna Baindl was taking part in her first-round match.
Tennis Australia responded by instantly banning the flags of Russia and Belarus.
Russian and Belarusian gamers have been banned from Wimbledon final yr however are capable of compete as particular person athletes with out nationwide affiliation on the Australian Open.
Their flags are usually not displayed beside their names in TV broadcasts, as is the case for different gamers, and their nation shouldn’t be indicated on draw sheets.
(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Melbourne; Enhancing by Christian Radnedge)
