sport news Tense moment 'Serbian tennis fans' brand Australian Open official 'racist' over ... trends now
Australian Open security guards have been branded 'racist' for bizarrely trying to confiscate a Serbian flag from fans after mistaking it for Russia's national symbol.
A social media account that appears to be affiliated with pro-Russian media posted a video of the encounter, in which fans who appear to be supporting Serbian players who were stopped by officials.
Russian and Belarusian flags are now banned from the Melbourne Park grand slam, after a rogue fan used the former to taunt Ukrainian player Kateryna Baindl during a match.
In the video, a security guard can be seen flipping through a book that appears to contain pictures of many different flags.
A man wearing a Serbian flag confronted Australian Open officials and labelled them 'racists' for confusing his flag for a Russian one, which are banned
'You're f***ing racist,' one of the fans can be heard saying in the background as the official tells them Russian flags are banned.
'It's a Serbian flag. Serbia is central Balkans region in Europe. Do you know what a country is?' the fuming fan tells the security guard while wearing the Serb flag around his neck as a cape.
The irate official then snaps at the fans, telling them they don't have permission to film him, which they tell him they don't need - something he clearly doesn't agree with as he continues to get agitated after they call out his mistake.
In the video, the Australian Open official can be seen getting increasingly agitated after the fans confronted him over his mistake
'Call the cops, arrest us ... you're gonna be on YouTube,' says one of the fans, with the official snapping back 'you're a lovely man'.
The security guard then tries to say that the fans told him 'they hate Croatians', but one of spectators replies that his best friend and girlfriend are from the country.
'Repeat after me; white, blue red ... this is red, blue, white,' one of the fans says as he points toward the Serbian flag he is wearing.
'These racists don't allow certain flags.'
Increasingly agitated, the security guard then storms off after telling the fans they are 'f***ing idiots' while his young female counterpart confirms politely it is a Serbian flag.
'The American flag, that's the one you should ban,' one of the fans jokes, with the young female official agreeing 'I know right!' before shaking their hands and thanking them for understanding.
It's an embarrassing encounter made all the worse by the very obvious differences between the two country's flags.
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