Police ejected about 150 spectators from the Australian Open on Monday after an ugly brawl broke out between Serbian and Croatian fans inside the ground.
Fans wearing the national colours of the bitter Balkan rivals clashed in the Rod Laver Arena after taunting and hurling insults at each other.
Witnesses said they kicked and punched each other and set upon their rivals with flagpoles before dozens of police and security staff rushed in to end the melee and eject the combatants after confiscating their tickets.
”They were mostly Serbians ejected as they were upsetting the Croatians,” Victoria state police spokesperson Katherine Jess said.
Earlier, a group of fans gathered in central Melbourne and lit flares as they made their way to the stadium.
”It’s bad because you go to the tennis and you go to watch and then it ends up in an actual brawl, it’s just ridiculous,” a Croatian fan called Marina told Australian Associated Press.
”You go to cheer on your actual player, not to go and fight.”
Tennis Australia chief executive Steve Wood said there were no injuries or arrests and security staff had acted swiftly to end the fight.
He said fans in national colours had always been a welcome feature of the season-opening Grand Slam but organisers would not let troublemakers ruin the day for other patrons.
”We hope that today’s well coordinated response sends a clear message that while we are happy for fans to come along and support their favourite player, decisive action will be taken if any patrons, or groups, cross the line of acceptable behaviour at this family event,” he said.
The Serbian fans had gathered to support in-form youngster Jelena Jankovic, while the Croats were at the tournament for daytime matches involving Mario Ancic, Karolina Sprem and Ivan Ljubicic.
Serbian Novak Djokovic plays China’s Nicolas Massu in a night session. Ancic said he knew nothing about the disturbance, which occurred as he was cruising to a straight sets victory over Japan’s Go Soeda.
”No, I had no idea,” he said, before defending Croatian fans.
”We are well known for great support but correct support. I don’t know [of] any excess ever.”
Serbian supporters were criticised at last week’s Sydney International final when they booed Belgian Kim Clijsters during her win over Jankovic and chanted during her victory speech.
Melbourne has large Croatian and Serbian populations and rivalries between the communities has in the past spilled over into violence at football matches.
Community leaders from both sides condemned the violence but blamed each other for the clash.
”National pride is one thing but this is unacceptable,” Croatian Community Association secretary Tom Starcevic said.
”I wasn’t there but from what I’ve seen and heard the Serbs were quite provocative.”
Serbian Cultural Club president, Toma Banjanin, said Croatian supporters provoked Serbian fans by flaunting their colours.
”You didn’t see many Serbs dressed that way,” Banjanin said. ”I think Croats are always overdoing things, they are always mixing politics with sport.” – AFP