Peng Shuai: Martina Navratilova critica a los organizadores del Abierto de Australia como ‘cobardes’

Martina Navratilova has accused the organizers of the Australian Open of Cowardice and ‘Capitula’ against China for the prohibition of shirts that support Peng Shuai.

The video images on social networks showed the spectators in Melbourne Park receiving instructions to take off their shirts and banners that asked "Where is Peng Shuai?"

The Chinese player disappeared for weeks after accusing former vice -first Chinese minister Zhang Gaoli of inappropriate sexual behavior in November.

Australian Open Security staff told an amateur to remove a ‘Where is Peg Shuai?’ Short manga t -shirt

Peng Shuai (in the photo of 2020), former number one in the world of doubles, is absent from the Grand Slam and fears for his well -being after he alleged online in November that the former vice -first Chinese minister Zhang Gaoli had "forced"to have sex.

Since then it has reappeared, giving a television interview in a moment, but there are still concerns about your well -being.

The spectators in the first slam of the year used the shirts to highlight their situation, but the security personnel told them to take them away.

Tennis Australia said that it did not allow ‘clothing, banners or signs that are commercial or political’, but added that he continued working with the WTA to seek clarity about Peng's whereabouts.

But Navratilova, an activist in a variety of social issues, said in Tennis Channel: "Sports have always been at the forefront of social problems, pushing them forward, and I think we are going back".

On Sunday, images of security guards and police officers arose that demanded the viewers to remove the shirts with the message "Where is Peg Shuai" in the Grand Slam during the weekend.

The former player turned into an expert Martina Navratilova criticized the organizers of the Australian Open

«We had the problem with Peng Shuai, and now there were fans in the tournament watching Naomi Osaka's practice, they weren't even on the main court, they had‘ Where is Peg Shuai ’on his shirt and they were said he would cover him.

I find it very, very cowardly.This is not a political statement, it is a human rights declaration.

‘Really capitulate on this issue of Australians and let the Chinese really dictate what they do in their own blow.I simply find it very weak.

Navratilova also described the position of the organizers as "pathetic" in a tweet on Sunday.

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Tennis Australia turned.

The fifth main show court in Melbourne Park is called 1573 Arena in honor of the company Guojiao 1573 of the company.

The Declaration of Tennis Australia said: ‘Depending on the conditions of entry of our ticket, we do not allow clothing, banners or posters that are commercial or political.

‘Peng Shuai's security is our main concern.We continue working with the WTA and the world tennis community to seek more clarity about their situation and we will do everything possible to guarantee their well -being ».

The video posted on the weekend showed two human rights activists, one of them Max Mok, an activist in favor of Hong Kong's democracy, being confronted by security personnel in Melbourne Park.

The Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai (in the photo) disappeared from the public's view in November after launching accusations of sexual assault against a high -ranking politician.

Since then, a gofundme page has been created and 3 have been collected.500 pounds sterling for the printing of more Peng T -shirts that will be delivered to the spectators before the individual women's final on Saturday.

Mok told The Age newspaper: «If Tennis Australia takes the movement seriously, they will let people enter.Time will say on which side are they ».

In November, Peng published a message of 1.600 words on the Chinese Social Network Network platform.

The publication was quickly eliminated and then disappeared from the public eye with mentions of its disappearance of Chinese websites, which caused the concern of the world tennis community and human rights groups.

Peng reappeared several weeks later and in his first interview in December he denied having made accusations of sexual assault.

Alize Cornet from France, who was the first player to publicly highlight her concerns about Peng, said the shirt incident: «When I heard that, I was surprised.I think everyone should be able to express their support for Peng Shuai.’

The WTA has taken a firm posture in support of Peng, suspending tournaments in China, which has become its most important market.

Cornet said: "He is not still very sure of how he is going, but I think that putting some lights in this story was good for her in general".Now, of course, we are all waiting for more details that we do not have so far, but we keep our fingers crossed ”.