Australian Open attendees warned to avoid waving banned flags or risk being booted

Attendees or protestors waving a flag banned at the Grand Slam will be kicked out or turned over to police, with security guards also permitted to conduct searches at entry points.

Australian Open boss Craig Tiley has warned protesters or anyone waving a flag banned at this month’s Melbourne Grand Slam they will be kicked out of Melbourne Park or turned over to police.

In a bid to keep “the happy slam” fan friendly, Russian and Belarusian flags have again been banned at the tournament, while Israel flags will effectively be banned for the bulk of the 15 day tournament too.

Mr Tiley told the Herald Sun the Israeli flag would only be allowed at Melbourne Park if there was a player from the nation competing.

But there are no players from Israel in the men’s or women’s main draw.

Wheelchair singles World No. 3 Guy Sasson is from Israel but will not play until the AO wheelchair championships are staged from January 21.

Mr Tiley said the tournament’s policy was to allow flags from the nation’s of competing players.

Craig Tiley, Australian Open Tournament Director, is warning attendees and protestors to avoid waving banned flags at the event - or risk being booted out. Picture: Getty Images

The ultimate objective is to make sure our fans are happy and to provide a safe and enjoyable environment in which they can watch the tennis,’’ he said.

“And at any time that is compromised then we step in.

“And so we’re making it very clear — if there is a player that is not from a country that is competing — you’re not welcome on site with a flag from any other country.’’

Mr Tiley said security guards would search for banned flags at entry points and anyone court flouting the rules inside the precinct would be asked to remove them or leave.

“You would hope those flags would be picked up on entry into the site but sometimes that doesn’t happen,’’ he said.

“If they are overtly displayed or displayed on site they will be asked to remove the flag and obviously is there non compliance we can remove the flag and the person.’’

Russian and Belarusian flags were banned at the Open in 2023.

Israeli flags will effectively be banned for the bulk of the 15 day tournament. Picture: Mark Stewart

It came after a Russian flag was flown by a fan during a match between players from the warring nations.

While protesters have stopped traffic in Melbourne’s CBD and political, animal right’s and refugee groups had targeted the AO in previous years due to it’s huge global audience, Mr Tiley said organisers were taking a no-nonsense approach this year.

“People that come on site with the intent to disrupt are not welcome and anyone that is disruptive, we will ensure they are not welcomed back onto site.’’

Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dvir Abramovich saw no problem with Israel flags only being flown when players from that nation competed provided the same approach was taken to other countries.

“If the tournament director is saying unless there is a Canadian player or a French player playing, you cannot bring the flags of those countries I do not have a problem,’’ he said.

“It’s impossible to criticise them if there is a uniform, consistent application of the rule.

“It also becomes an issue of enforcement.’’

mailto:[e-mail]

Originally published as Australian Open attendees warned to avoid waving banned flags or risk being booted