Tennis Australia backflips on ‘Where is Peng Shuai?’ T-shirt ban, says they are now allowed as long as fans ‘are peaceful’
- Fans wearing T-shirts reading ‘Where is Peng Shuai?’ were asked to remove them by security and police at Melbourne Park
- Shirts to be allowed but banners still barred, says Australian Open tournament chief Craig Tiley
Fans at the Australian Open can wear “Where is Peng Shuai?” T-shirts as long as they are peaceful, Tennis Australia chief Craig Tiley said, amid criticism of the grand slam organisers’ earlier stance on the issue.
The stunning backflip comes after Australian authorities and security at Melbourne Park ordered two spectators to remove their T-shirts and a banner with the message “Where is Peng Shuai?” Tennis Australia said it confiscated them because they were political, but has now softened its stance.
“Yes, as long as they are not coming as a mob to be disruptive but are peaceful,” Australian Open tournament chief Craig Tiley told AFP on Tuesday after a backlash over the grand slam’s controversial stance.
“It doesn’t really matter what they say but if they’re bringing a banner on site that’s got poles that they’re going to put up and they’re going to cover people’s ability to watch the tennis, then they’re going to need to remove it,” Tiley said.
Martina Navratilova was among several tennis greats to accuse Australian Open organisers of “capitulating” to China over the banning of T-shirts supporting Peng Shuai.