Monday, 24 Jan 2022. 09:19 PM
Australian Open tennis boss Craig Tiley is accepting spectators wearing t-shirts in support of Chinese player Peng Shuai on the condition that they do not engage in hostile behaviour, he said announced Tuesday to AFP.
“Yes, provided they don’t show up as a hostile mob to cause mayhem but are peaceful,” Mr Tiley said, adding that security officers would judge on a case-by-case basis.
The organizers of the Internationals had sparked a controversy by asking supporters on Sunday to remove their t-shirts bearing the slogan Where is Peng Shuai?, on the grounds that the Australian Open “does not allow political clothing, banners or placards”, according to a spokesperson for the Australian Tennis Federation.
Czech-American Martina Navratilova, a tennis legend with 18 Grand Slam singles titles, called the decision “pathetic” on Twitter.
“Misunderstandings”
“There have been misunderstandings for some people who are not here and do not really know the big picture,” said Craig Tiley on Tuesday.
“The situation for the past two days is that some people have come with a banner on two big poles and we cannot allow that,” he added.
“If you come to watch the tennis, that’s fine, but ultimately we can’t allow anyone to cause a disturbance. »
The about-face comes as local media quoted human rights experts as saying Tennis Australia’s stance could be illegal.
“There appears to be no valid reason to ask a participant to remove a t-shirt that highlights a human rights issue,” lawyer Michael Stanton told the newspaper. The Age.
In response to the organizers’ ban, an Australian human rights activist has managed to raise more than 14,000 Australian dollars (more than 9,000 euros) on the platform GoFundMe with the aim of printing the same t-shirts and distributing them to spectators ahead of the final of the women’s tournament.
Former world doubles number one Peng Shuai is absent from Melbourne amid fears for her well-being after she posted a lengthy (since deleted) post on Chinese social media Weibo in November in which she accused former Deputy Prime Minister Zhang Gaoli, 40 years her senior, of “forced” sex during a relationship that lasted several years.
China very quickly blocked any reference to this message, and it then did not appear in public for almost three weeks.
Her subsequent public appearances did not end concerns about the 36-year-old missing the Australian Open.
The WTA has been hailed for its firm support for the player, going so far as to suspend its tournaments in China.
Players continued to inquire directly about Peng in order to be reassured about his safety.
Craig Tiley reiterated that the organization’s “primary concern” was “Peng Shuai’s well-being”.
