Novak Djokovic’s father has been seen posing with Russian demonstrators throughout a protest in assist of President Vladimir Putin on the Australian Open.
The match has been tossed into scandal after police detained 4 males exterior Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday night time following Djokovic’s quarter-final win over Russian Andrey Rublev.
Spectators inside Melbourne Park had been seen with pro-war indicators and flags that includes the face of Putin as they chanted exterior the stadium.
A video posted on YouTube now seems to indicate Djokovic’s dad, Srdan, posing with a gaggle of males who had been additionally seen waving the Russian flags which have been banned from the Australian Open.
Newsagency inews.co.uk first reported the video which seems to indicate Srdan telling one of many demonstrators “Long live the Russians” in a unfastened translation.
In a video posted on the YouTube channel Aussie Cossack, the daddy of the nine-time Australian Open champion was seen alongside a person who was carrying a T-shirt that prominently featured the pro-war ‘Z’ image.
The video additionally exhibits that the group of Russian activists was in a position to stage its demonstration for an prolonged time period earlier than safety intervened.
Tennis Australia earlier confirmed 4 spectators had been detained by police and had been additional questioned.
A press release from Victoria Police has confirmed all 4 males had been evicted from the occasion.
“Police spoke to four men after a Russian flag was produced on the steps at the tennis about 10.20pm on Wednesday 25 January. All four men were evicted,” the assertion learn.
Footage posted on-line confirmed not less than one man holding a Russian flag with President Vladimir Putin’s face on it.
Another man was seen contained in the stadium throughout the match with a professional warfare ‘Z’ image T-shirt.
Spectators are banned from having Russian or Belarusian flags on the Grand Slam after Ukraine’s ambassador demanded motion once they had been seen among the many crowd final week.
Tennis Australia launched a press release in response to the scenes that unfolded at Melbourne Park on Wednesday night time.
“A small group of people displayed inappropriate flags and symbols and threatened security guards following a match on Wednesday night and were evicted. One patron is now assisting police with unrelated matters,” the assertion learn.
“Players and their teams have been briefed and reminded of the event policy regarding flags and symbols and to avoid any situation that has the potential to disrupt. We continue to work closely with event security and law enofrcement agencies.”
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Russian and Belarusian gamers have usually competed below a impartial white flag as independents, as is the case on the Australian Open.
Three of the eight quarter-finalists within the males’s singles and girls’s singles attracts are enjoying as neutrals, whereas Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina was additionally born in Russia.
Two Belarusian gamers — Victoria Azarenka and Aryna Sabalenka — may meet in Saturday’s Australian Open last after profitable via to the final 4.
Karen Khachanov additionally performs Stefanos Tsitsipas within the semi-finals.
Tennis Australia mentioned in a press release safety workers had been threatened throughout the incident exterior the stadium.
“Four people in the crowd leaving the stadium revealed inappropriate flags and symbols and threatened security guards,” an Australian Open assertion learn.
“Victoria Police intervened and are continuing to question them. The comfort and safety of everyone is our priority and we work closely with security and authorities.”
Vision of a gaggle of spectators
A video of the incident captured by journalist Tumaini Carayol confirmed a gaggle of spectators waving flags and chanting “Serbia, Russia”.
The Telegraph has additionally reported Djokovic might have unwittingly signed a flag for a spectator who was beforehand seen within the crowd carrying the ‘Z’ T-shirt.
Russian and Belarusian gamers had been banned from competing at Wimbledon in 2022.
