Review as Australian policeman repeatedly hits fan
Australian police said today they have launched an internal review after footage aired on television showed an officer repeatedly punching a fan at Sydney Cricket Ground.
The Seven Network video shows a uniformed New South Wales officer hitting a person at least five times in the stands of the SCG during Wednesday night's Big Bash Twenty20 clash between Sydney Sixers and Perth Scorchers.
"Following vision (footage) from a media organisation being made available to police, an internal review of the incident is now under way," a police spokeswoman said.
"Police employ a variety of techniques to achieve compliance and the review will examine whether the techniques used in this instance were appropriate to the situation."
Police allege a 39-year-old man refused to leave the ground despite repeated requests to do so.
NSW Assistant Police Commissioner Mark Murdoch told Channel Seven that "the video footage, in isolation, doesn't look great".
But he said the whole incident needed to be taken on context.
"We will allege that he resisted arrest quite violently," he said.
The Big Bash is Australia's attempt to create a world-class T20 tournament in the same mould as the Indian Premier League with eight city-based teams, with an emphasis on energy and a fast-paced atmosphere.
It has attracted some of T20's big names: Pakistan's Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq, West Indians Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo, South African Herschelle Gibbs, as well as enticing Australian great Shane Warne out of retirement.
