11 hooligans barred from Australian Open

A group of 11 people has been thrown out from Melbourne Park for disrupting Croat’s Ivo Karlovic’s match against Czech Radek Stepanek. Two of them were also found carrying flares, reports said. 11 hooligans barred from Australian Open The group were ejected from the stands after standing on chairs, shouting and harassing other spectators of the match, Times Online reported. They were banned for the duration of the tournament and two were issued with on-the-spot fines, one for disrupting play and the other for possessing a flare, but no charges were laid. Earlier in the day, a large group of chanting Croats lit flares and made offensive and threatening gestures as they headed to the tournament. Police said eight people were refused entry. Police, however, denies that security failed after flares were smuggled to the stands. Some of the worst scenes were on the opening day of the 2007 tournament when Serbian and Croatian fans, wearing the national colors, attacked each other with flagpoles, bottles and boots. In 2008, police used pepper spray to subdue rowdy crowd watching a match between Konstantinos Economidis of Greece and Chile's Fernando Gonzales. Last year there was a fight between Bosnian and Serbian fans. Since then the police has stepped up the security with more surveillance cameras.

11 hooligans barred from Australian Open

The group were ejected from the stands after standing on chairs, shouting and harassing other spectators of the match, Times Online reported.

They were banned for the duration of the tournament and two were issued with on-the-spot fines, one for disrupting play and the other for possessing a flare, but no charges were laid.

Earlier in the day, a large group of chanting Croats lit flares and made offensive and threatening gestures as they headed to the tournament. Police said eight people were refused entry.

Police, however, denies that security failed after flares were smuggled to the stands.

Some of the worst scenes were on the opening day of the 2007 tournament when Serbian and Croatian fans, wearing the national colors, attacked each other with flagpoles, bottles and boots.

In 2008, police used pepper spray to subdue rowdy crowd watching a match between Konstantinos Economidis of Greece and Chile's Fernando Gonzales.

Last year there was a fight between Bosnian and Serbian fans. Since then the police has stepped up the security with more surveillance cameras.