ACT Policing were pleased with the generally well behaved crowd at yesterday’s ICC Cricket World Cup match between Zimbabwe and West Indies at Manuka Oval (Tuesday, February 24), despite a small number of spectators ejected.
ACT Policing’s Operation Commander for the event, Superintendent Rob Wilson, said that a small group of males put a dampener on an otherwise enthusiastic crowd of over 5,500 spectators at the day-night international sporting fixture.
“While the majority of the crowd enjoyed the match without incident, a small group of men displayed unruly behaviour and were ejected,” Supt Wilson said.
Security staff ejected 21 males from a grassed area for having glass bottles in the venue and displaying disruptive and intoxicated behaviour.
One man was taken into police custody for intoxication inside the venue after security staff attempted to eject him. The man was issued with three Criminal Infringement Notices totaling $1000 and conveyed to the ACT Watch House.
Another man was taken into police custody for intoxication outside the venue and conveyed to the ACT Watch House.
Security staff ejected three other people for throwing items into the crowd.
Three men were spoken to by police, ejected and issued with a banning notice by the ICC for “pitchsiding”, a practice which breaches the terms and conditions of entry.
“Pitchsiding” refers to the practice of spectators within venues relaying information of incidents during games to people overseas, taking advantage of broadcasting time delays to manipulate betting.
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