Australian police want ban on Mexican Wave (January 18 1998 )

January 18 1998

Australian police want ban on Mexican Wave

AFP

SYDNEY, Jan 18 (AFP) - It is the rallying leap of sports fans worldwide but Australian police want it banned at cricket matches -- the Mexican Wave may be fun, they said Monday, but it is a threat to spectators and players.

The pronouncement from police came just days after rowdy fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground threw bottles and golf balls at players in a disgraceful display that brought play to a halt.

Police said the Melbourne fans responsible for the disturbance during the Australia-England one-dayer had been driven into a frenzy by the Mexican Wave, which often involves the throwing of bottles, cans and rubbish into the air.

The officer in charge of police at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Superintendent Gary Hodson, said his officers ejected several people from Sunday's Australia-England one-day match for repeatedly starting the wave.

"Unfortunately we must stop the wave to stop people throwing objects in the air," Hodson said. "My message to cricket fans is 'don't participate in the wave, it could cause injury to another person which we do not want to occur'."

Police made five arrests, issued 19 infringement notices and ejected 79 people from the grounds during Sunday's match, Hodson said.

But for the crowd size, estimated around 43,000, the number of incidents was fewer than normal, he said.

"For the most part the crowd behaviour was excellent. They tolerated a few fools around them and when they complained to the police security action was taken to remove those people so the majority of people could enjoy a day at the cricket," he said.