Two spectators evicted from Optus stadium after unfurling pro-Palestine banner

Two protesters have been evicted from Optus Stadium after they unfurled a banner with the same words Usman Khawaja had written on his shoes before the first Test.

A pair of patrons displaying a sign with the same message Usman Khawaja wore on his shoes and chanting pro-Palestinian slogans were evicted from Optus Stadium on day four of the first Test.

Two spectators draped a white banner with the words “ALL LIVES ARE EQUAL. FREEDOM IS A HUMAN RIGHT” written in the Palestinian colours of green, red and black over the front of the top tier of the Justin Langer stand on Sunday morning while Khawaja batted in Australia’s second innings.

The banner remained unfurled for around 10 to 15 minutes before security staff at the venue came to confiscate it. They also escorted the two spectators from the venue.

Fans who had been sitting nearby told this masthead that the spectators had been shouting “Free Palestine.” The fans were said to have been compliant when leaving.

An Optus Stadium spokesperson said the evictions had occurred as a result of the fans’ behaviour rather than the sign in isolation.

“A sign was removed because it contravened Cricket Australia’s terms and conditions of entry. Some patrons were removed because of antisocial behaviour, not because of the sign,” the spokesperson said.

Under the terms and conditions of attending international cricket this summer, fans must not “wear or otherwise display commercial, political, religious or offensive signage or logos.”

The words used on the banner were identical to those Khawaja had written on shoes ahead of Australian training two days out from the match.

The veteran opener, who turns 37 on Monday, had wanted to wear the shoes in the first Test but was blocked by the ICC.

CA had been conscious of a potential double standard had Khawaja been allowed to wear shoes displaying the message.

The shoes Usman Khawaja wanted to wear during the first Test against Pakistan in Perth. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images.

Having begrudgingly agreed not to display the message, Khawaja instead wrote the names of his daughters on his shoes and donned a black armband.

Khawaja, who was out for 90 in the Aussies’ second innings on Sunday, has been outspoken about the situation in Gaza but claims his position is not political and purely humanitarian.

He has indicated he will push to be allowed to wear the messages during the Boxing Day Test.

CA chief executive Nick Hockley has however stressed the need to comply with the ICC’s regulations.

“We support all our players to express themselves. We’ve got incredible characters in our team, very passionate about a range of things. And it’s important to express that in their own personal capacity and on their own channels,” Hockley said on Friday.

“As it relates to wearing slogans on uniforms, there are very, very clear regulations set forth by the ICC and we expect our players to abide by those regulations.”

The ICC regulations state that: “Players and team officials shall not be permitted to wear, display or otherwise convey personal messages on their clothing, equipment or otherwise, irrespective of whether such messages are affixed to clothing, equipment or otherwise and whether such messages are displayed or conveyed through the use of the specific clothing or other items (e.g. an arm band) or by the use of words, symbol, graphic message, images or otherwise (“Personal Messages”), unless approved in advance by both the player or team official’s board and the ICC cricket operations department. Approval shall not be granted for messages which relate to political, religious or racial activities or causes.”

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Originally published as Two spectators evicted from Optus stadium after unfurling pro-Palestine banner