11 disruptive Croatian tennis fans ejected from Australian Open

Sydney, Jan 18 (ANI): Eleven tennis fans have been ejected and warned by the police from the Australian Open for disruptive behaviour.

Police said the spectators were warned once by security for unruly behaviour, including setting off a flare, and then ejected after behaving in a disruptive manner a second time.

The trouble was reportedly sparked by a group of about 60 Croatia supporters, who lit flares and threatened other spectators on their way into Melbourne Park, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

A News Ltd photographer who shot the Croatian supporters was spat on and punched, the report said.

The early signs of ethnic strife at this year's Australian Open come after police last week vowed to clamp down on all troublemakers at the tennis event.

The tournament has been marred on a number of occasions in recent years when ethnic tensions between Croatian, Serbian and Bosnian fans have erupted into violent confrontations.

Superintendent John Cooke last week said police would act quickly if they detect any inappropriate or anti-social behaviour at the tournament. (ANI)