Novak Djokovic's father poses with fan wearing pro-Russia 'Z' symbol - CNN

CNN  — 

The Australian Open told CNN it has “briefed and reminded” players and their entourages astir the tournament’s “policy regarding flags and symbols” connected Thursday aft video emerged connected Wednesday of Novak Djokovic’s father, Srdjan, pictured astatine a objection with fans holding Russian flags, voicing his enactment for Russia.

In a video posted connected YouTube by a known Vladimir Putin supporter, Srdjan Djokovic tin beryllium seen posing with a instrumentality extracurricular Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena. The antheral is wearing the “Z” awesome connected his shirt, portion holding a Russian emblem with Putin’s look connected it. “Long unrecorded the Russia,” helium says.

The “Z” awesome is viewed arsenic a motion of enactment for Russia, including its penetration of Ukraine. The awesome has been seen connected Russian instrumentality and covering successful Ukraine.

CNN has reached retired to some Novak and Srdjan Djokovic for comment.

“Players and their teams person been briefed and reminded of the lawsuit argumentation regarding flags and symbols and to debar immoderate concern that has the imaginable to disrupt,” an Australian Open spokesperson told CNN Thursday.

“We proceed to enactment intimately with lawsuit information and instrumentality enforcement agencies.”

The Australian Open spokesperson went connected to accidental “a tiny radical of radical displayed inappropriate flags and symbols and threatened information guards pursuing a lucifer connected Wednesday nighttime and were evicted. One patron is present assisting constabulary with unrelated matters.”

Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia connected Friday urged the tennis prima to authorities his presumption connected the war, saying the incidental amounted to a “provocation” and “shines a antagonistic airy connected Novak himself arsenic helium prepares for his semi-final.”

“I deliberation for him to dispel the speculation it’s important to marque a precise beardown connection astir wherever helium stands connected this war, and I would similar to spot an apology from Novak Djokovic,” Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko told CNN.

“Of course, the lad cannot beryllium liable for the sins of his father, but possibly helium has the aforesaid sentiment arsenic his father. I deliberation the satellite should cognize wherever helium stands.”

Tennis Australia has confirmed that 4 radical were ejected from the tourney connected Wednesday for displaying pro-war imagery.

According to the Australian Open rules Russian and Belarusian flags are banned from the event.

Tennis Australia has a “neutral flag” argumentation and has re-emphasized it argumentation amid Russia’s penetration of Ukraine.