‘Un-Australian’: Indian fans slam offensive T-shirts at SCG Test

Chants of “where’s your visa” and shirts with references to 7/11 during the Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests have sparked calls from Australia’s Indian community to stamp out racism at the cricket.

Exclusive: The head of one of the country’s biggest Indian cricket fan groups has hit out at “offensive” shirts worn by a section of Australian supporters at the Sydney Test.

Photographs purportedly captured on the first day of the Pink Test between Australia and India at the Sydney Cricket Ground appear to show a group of male fans in blond wigs and white T-shirts, seated in the stands, with the words “7/11” written on their sleeve in black marker.

Gurnam Singh, the founder of the Australian-Indian Sports Educational and Cultural Society and the “Swami Army” fan group, said the reference is a racist stereotype about Indian-Australians working at convenience stores.

“Sport is one of the things that’s supposed to be bringing us together, and these actions only divide us,” Mr Singh told The Daily Telegraph.

The term ‘7/11’ written on an Australian fan’s shirt at the SCG.

Fans on day five at the MCG chanting “Where’s your visa” at the Bharat Army.

Mr Singh said while the series was “overwhelmingly positive”, “we cannot let the actions of a small minority detract from the joy, unity, and excitement that this sport brings to millions”.

Mr Singh, whose Indian sports fan group has more than 3000 members Australia wide, said several other witnesses had come forward with allegations of racist experiences at the Sydney Test and the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, including accounts of being called “Uber drivers” by some Australian fans.

Swami Army leader and the Australian-Indian Sports Educational and Cultural Society founder Gurnam Singh in Harris Park. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

It comes after a section of Australian fans were filmed chanting “where’s your Visa?” at members of India’s Bharat Army in the Shane Warne stand in the MCG during the Boxing Day Test, with footage circulating on social media.

Victorian Police told the ABC the opposing groups were taunting and waving flags at each other, and no formal complaints were made.

“Such remarks are not just offensive; they undermine the inclusive spirit of cricket. If I didn’t have a visa, I wouldn’t even be in the stadium — this kind of rhetoric is baseless and unacceptable” Mr Singh said.

“We understand there is banter, but this is unacceptable – there is no room for it.”

“It’s very disturbing that Australian fans are doing this, this is going to get a lot of coverage in India and it’s damaging to Australia.

“As an Australian-Indian, I feel my country is being defamed.

“Cricket is a bridge between cultures, and it is our shared responsibility to uphold its values of respect and camaraderie.”

Gurnam Singh and Jake Jeakings at the Sydney Cricket Ground on day one of the Pink Test. Picture: Tom Parrish

When contacted by The Daily Telegraph, Cricket Australia said security measures “worked effectively”.

“The record crowds supporting both teams during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy created an amazing atmosphere and incredible experiences for hundreds of thousands of people,” the spokesman said.

“Stadium operators have security measures in place to deal with anti-social behaviour and we believe these worked effectively throughout the series.”

The Bharat Army Indian fans celebrate a wicket on the third day of the Pink Test. Picture: Tom Parrish

A spokesman for the SCG, which is managed by Venues NSW, said announcements are made regularly during play warning patrons that inappropriate behaviour could result in eviction from the venue, and Venues NSW will investigate any reports or complaints it receives.

“Venues NSW has a zero-tolerance approach to racism and is a cosignatory of the Australian Human Rights Commission’s anti-racism spectator framework,” the spokesman said.

“Any offenders are dealt with by police and banned from our venues.”

Originally published as ‘Un-Australian’: Indian fans slam offensive T-shirts at SCG Test