- The CEO of the Jewish Association says Open does not enforce any rules
- Fans spotted in Melbourne Park wearing pro-Palestine shirts
The Australian Open has been accused of going soft on pro-Palestinian protesters who clearly broke the tournament’s rules at this year’s event at Melbourne Park.
Earlier this week, Australian Open boss Craig Tiley said anyone found waving a flag banned at the Grand Slam would be removed from the venue or arrested by police.
The rules apply to anyone ‘who displays material that is intended to disrupt, insult, defame or that is political in nature’.
However, photos emerged this week from the event of fans wearing shirts with pro-Palestine messages.
Australian Jewish Association CEO Robert Gregory said it was a clear breach of rules set by officials.
“The rules should be applied equally to everyone,” he said News Corp.
Australian Jewish Association boss Robert Gregory has condemned fans displaying pro-Palestinian shirts at the Australian Open (pictured)
The rules state that anyone waving a banned flag during the Grand Slam will be removed from the venue and subject to arrest (2024 Open demonstrator pictured)
‘There should be no exception for Palestinian activists.
“Australians have been confronted with anti-Israel protests and disruptions in our cities for more than a year.
“The last place Australians want to see this is in tennis.”
In 2022, the Australian Open banned fans from wearing shirts with the slogan “Where is Peng Shuai?” – after concerns about player safety in China. The ban was eventually reversed under pressure from public opinion.
The Australian Jewish Association raised the issue this week, stating: ‘The Australian Open apparently has a rule banning political slogans.
‘They even enforced that against fans who supported Chinese player Peng Shuai.
“Not so when it comes to the ‘Free Palestine’ crowd.”
The tournament’s policy is to only allow flags from participating countries. However, Russian and Belarusian flags are banned regardless of who is playing.
A protester hurled flyers in support of a ‘Free Palestine’ during the 2024 Open
Tiley says the Israeli flag would be allowed if an Israeli player were competing at Melbourne Park.
“The ultimate goal is to ensure our fans are satisfied and provide a safe and enjoyable environment in which to watch tennis,” he said.
‘And whenever that is compromised, we intervene.
‘And so we make it very clear: if there is a player who is not from a country that participates, you are not welcome on the field with a flag of another country.’