Because of this "mistake by security staff", New Zealand’s Minister for Sport requested an explanation, the New Zealand Herald reported on Thursday.
Joseph Erceg and Nevin Simic arrived at the ASB Classic on Tuesday afternoon to watch the first-round match between Vekić and Filipino player Alexandra Eala.
When they reached the ticket-scanning area, stewards informed them that wearing national sports jerseys was not permitted. They were instructed to turn them inside out if they wanted to enter.
Their Croatian flags were also confiscated.
Erceg asked for an explanation and was told that the ban had been introduced by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) following last month’s massacre at Bondi Beach in Australia. Erceg pointed out that there had been no information online about a ban on wearing national team jerseys.
After asking whether there were any shirts available for purchase inside the stadium, he was told to go to the Kmart shop.
In order to avoid further tension, Erceg and Simic turned their jerseys inside out and entered the stands.
Other spectators then asked them why they were wearing their jerseys inside out.
They were surprised to see fans wearing jerseys of other national teams the right way round, as well as Filipino supporters cheering for Eala, who won the match 4–6, 6–4, 6–4.
A steward misinterpreted the measure
After news of the incident spread, Minister for Ethnic Communities, Minister of Police and Minister for Sport and Recreation, Mark Mitchell, responded via a spokesperson and requested information about what had happened.
"In an isolated incident that occurred on Tuesday, a steward misinterpreted the measure," the ASB Classic tournament spokesperson said.
The tournament rules, he explained, prohibit the bringing in of national flags, not jerseys, shirts or other clothing with national symbols.
"No one should be denied entry because of what they are wearing, unless it is inappropriate or offensive. During the tournament, many fans have been dressed in clothing representing various nations," the spokesperson said. He added that all stewards had been informed of the correct policy following the incident.
The New Zealand Herald noted that a similar issue occurred last year involving an American fan who had a US flag on the back of his jacket. He was told he could not enter with the flag visible and had to put the jacket in his backpack or take it back to his car.
The security company Executive Security Group, whose guards stopped Erceg and Simic, declined to comment on the incident and referred journalists to the tournament organisers.
Erceg spoke to several Croatians in the stands who reportedly told him they had experienced the same problem.
Among them was an 82-year-old man who turned his jersey back the right way round after entering.
Auckland FC football club offers Erceg and Simic tickets for their next match
In the end, Auckland FC football club became involved and offered Erceg and Simic tickets to a hospitality box with food and drinks for their next match, which they will play on 24 January against the Central Coast Mariners.
Around 100,000 people of Croatian origin live in New Zealand, according to data from the Central State Office for Croats Abroad, based in Zagreb.