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Ethnic brawl at Australian Open
15/01/2007 08:05 - (SA)
Melbourne - Police ejected about 150 spectators from the Australian Open on Monday after a 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 through the morning.
Dozens of police were forced to separate them before ejecting them and confiscating their tickets.
"They were mostly Serbians ejected as they were upsetting the Croatians," Victoria 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.
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 and Ivan Ljubicic.
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.
Tennis Australia officials were meeting police to discuss the latest incident and expect to issue a statement later on Monday before Serbian Novak Djokovic plays China's Nicolas Massu in a night session.
Melbourne has large Croatian and Serbian populations and rivalries between the communities has in the past spilled over into violence at football matches.
- AFP
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