Philip Rowse ejected from GMHBA Stadium over Taiwanese flag

A couple ejected from the Matildas game at GMHBA Stadium after displaying the Taiwanese flag has hit out at authorities.

Philip Rowse and his wife were kicked out of GMHBA Stadium during the Matildas game. Picture: Brad Fleet

A man escorted out of GMHBA Stadium after displaying the Taiwanese flag during a Matildas game has been left “rattled” by the encounter, which he claims was “racist” and “wrong.”

Philip Rowse, a resident of Taiwan who grew up in Geelong, and his partner, a Taiwanese national who did not wish to be identified, attended the Australia vs. Chinese Taipei soccer match on Saturday, December 7.

Chinese Taipei is the name used for sports teams representing Taiwan.

The team sports a different design to the official flag of the country.

Mr Rowse said he and his partner were approached by a security guard after the 15 minute mark of the match and told to put the flag away, as it was not permitted.

Australian, Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and the Chinese Taipei flags were approved for the match.

But Mr Rowse claimed the enforcement of the rule was hypocritical.

“The green and gold flags aren’t on the list and they were everywhere … so if that’s the reason, there should’ve been some consistency,” he said.

“Taiwanese people were approached and told not to be Taiwanese for the day … I find that quite racist.”

A spokesperson from Victoria Police said Mr Rowse allegedly “refused to comply” with conditions of entry and, after being spoken to by security, would not follow the directions of police.

Mr Rowse denied arguing and said he was seeking answers with security about any wrongdoing on his part before him and his partner were escorted out by police members.

He called the experience “intense” and felt blindsided by what he perceived to be a lack of warning.

“There was nothing when we entered the stadium that said you cannot bring this flag,” he said.

“We were targeted.”

However, Kardinia Park Stadium Trust chief executive Gerard Griffin said conditions regarding the display of flags – set by the venue hirer Football Australia – were “conveyed in pre-event communications to ticket purchases and displayed at entry points into the venue.”

A spokesperson from Football Australia said their terms of admission for international matches were non-negotiable and clear-cut.

“Only the official national flags of the two competing nations – as confirmed by the participating teams – are permitted within the venue on match days,” they said.

“Football Australia provides ticket purchasers via direct email with important event information, including details around banned and permissible items … this information is also available at venue entry points at Football Australia matches.”

Originally published as Philip Rowse ejected from GMHBA Stadium over Taiwanese flag