WA police issued move-on notices to three men who unfurled a controversial banner at Thursday night's BBL match between the Perth Scorchers and Sydney Thunder at Perth Stadium.
The trio – a 50-year-old from Southern River, a 38-year-old from Dianella and a 24-year-old from Cottesloe – were forced to exit the venue after they hung the banner, which read "It's OK to be white", over the railing on the top tier of the 60,000-seat venue just as the match began.
The men removed the banner minutes later after being spotted by security, who approached them in the stadium concourse as they attempted to exit the venue before police intervened.
The controversial banner during the Perth Scorchers match at Optus Stadium on Thursday night.Credit:ABC
The phrase is affiliated with white supremacist groups and gained prominence in Australia last October when federal senators backed a motion by Pauline Hanson declaring 'it's OK to be white' before government leader in the Senate, West Australian Mathias Cormann, blamed an "administrative error" for the vote's success.
Cricket Australia, the WACA and Optus Stadium – which prohibits over-sized banners and flags deemed to cause a public nuisance – have been contacted for comment and it is unclear if the men will face any charges but a Cricket Australia spokesperson said they would receive a first and final warning from the organisation.
"Cricket Australia takes a zero-tolerance approach to anti-social behaviour at any of our matches, which includes racial vilification," a spokesperson said.
"Our message to any fan attending a match is that if you display anti-social behaviour you will be removed and risk being banned from any cricket match across Australia, along with police action.
"We encourage anybody who may witness this at one of our matches to report the matter to security or a member of staff immediately."
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