Chinese basketball fans clash with human rights activists at Australia FIBA World Cup qualifier

Pandemonium broke out in the stands at John Cain arena as Australia played China in an FIBA World Cup qualifier.

Members of security try to remove protesters from the stadium (Photo by William WEST / AFP)

Chinese basketball fans have clashed with human rights activists at a match in Melbourne.

Pandemonium broke out in the stands at John Cain arena as Australia played China in an FIBA World Cup qualifier.

Activist Max Mok claims he was assaulted after holding up a poster of an Australian Uyghur Muslim who is imprisoned in China.

He also shouted ‘Free East Turkestan’ and ‘Hong Kong independence’ at China basketball fans.

Video taken during the chaotic scenes shows Mr Mok being shoved by a man as his girlfriend tries to hold him back.

Chinese ultra-nationalists violently assault Hong Kong human rights protestors at the China vs Australia basketball match pic.twitter.com/x1vO39LxtI

— Drew Pavlou (@DrewPavlou) June 30, 2022

Protesters are ejected from the venue during the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifier match between the Australia Boomers and China at John Cain Arena (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)

Another photo shows a protester being dragged from the stadium by security.

Other protesters held a Tibetan flag aloft in an act of defiance.

China has made flying the Tibet flag illegal as it claims the territory is part of mainland China.

Victoria Police said seven spectators were removed from the stadium.

No one was injured, cops added.

The Boomers best China 76-69 are now through to the next round of World Cup qualifying.

They play Japan on Friday before another game on Sunday as they finish off their group matches.

Members of security try to remove protesters from the stadium (Photo by William WEST / AFP)

Zijie Shen of China and William McDowell-White of Australia compete for the ball (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)