ID :
42353
Fri, 01/23/2009 - 17:34
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Violence erupts at Australian Open
Two men will be charged after ethnic violence erupted at the Australian Open between Serbian and Bosnian supporters.
Up to 30 people were ejected from Melbourne Park on Friday after a fight in which chairs were hurled following the match between Serbian Novak Djokovic and Bosnian-born Amer Delic who now lives in and represents the US.
The fight started when a tennis ball was thrown between the groups of supporters in Garden Square, which was quickly followed by 16 chairs, the first of which knocked a female Bosnian supporter to the ground.
The clash spilled over outside the venue when punches were thrown between rival fans before police escorted the groups away in different directions.
Delic made a plea on his website earlier this week for his fans to tone down their behaviour after the boisterous support for him in his first round match.
He said he was "really sad" to hear about the fight after his four set loss to Djokovic.
"There's absolutely no place for that here. This is a tennis match," he said.
"Novak and I are friends. We're both competitors, obviously. In the end it was a fair match, and there was no reason for such things."
Defending Open champion Djokovic said the crowd's courtside behaviour was, to an extent, understandable.
"You have to understand them in some point, because people don't get many chances to see their professional athletes from their countries," he said.
"This is probably the only opportunity they can see them, and they support them."
He said there was little the players could do about the crowd's behaviour.
"We can try to ask them to be a little bit less - a little bit quiet during the point," Djokovic said.
"I can't do much, I'm on the court.
"The authorities are there, chair umpires, referees, the people, security."
A 21-year-old man from St Albans and an 18-year-old from Noble Park will be charged on summons with riotous behaviour and discharging a missile.
Another man was given an on the spot $227 fine for riotous behaviour.
Police Inspector Chris Duthie said there would be no moves to prevent supporters bringing in national flags and colours to the tennis.
"No, we're not stopping anything except unruly and unacceptable behaviour," Insp Duthie said.
He said the incident was dealt with quickly and effectively by police and security and he expected no more problems.
Up to 30 people were ejected from Melbourne Park on Friday after a fight in which chairs were hurled following the match between Serbian Novak Djokovic and Bosnian-born Amer Delic who now lives in and represents the US.
The fight started when a tennis ball was thrown between the groups of supporters in Garden Square, which was quickly followed by 16 chairs, the first of which knocked a female Bosnian supporter to the ground.
The clash spilled over outside the venue when punches were thrown between rival fans before police escorted the groups away in different directions.
Delic made a plea on his website earlier this week for his fans to tone down their behaviour after the boisterous support for him in his first round match.
He said he was "really sad" to hear about the fight after his four set loss to Djokovic.
"There's absolutely no place for that here. This is a tennis match," he said.
"Novak and I are friends. We're both competitors, obviously. In the end it was a fair match, and there was no reason for such things."
Defending Open champion Djokovic said the crowd's courtside behaviour was, to an extent, understandable.
"You have to understand them in some point, because people don't get many chances to see their professional athletes from their countries," he said.
"This is probably the only opportunity they can see them, and they support them."
He said there was little the players could do about the crowd's behaviour.
"We can try to ask them to be a little bit less - a little bit quiet during the point," Djokovic said.
"I can't do much, I'm on the court.
"The authorities are there, chair umpires, referees, the people, security."
A 21-year-old man from St Albans and an 18-year-old from Noble Park will be charged on summons with riotous behaviour and discharging a missile.
Another man was given an on the spot $227 fine for riotous behaviour.
Police Inspector Chris Duthie said there would be no moves to prevent supporters bringing in national flags and colours to the tennis.
"No, we're not stopping anything except unruly and unacceptable behaviour," Insp Duthie said.
He said the incident was dealt with quickly and effectively by police and security and he expected no more problems.
