MELBOURNE, Dec 23: Fans at Australia’s first Test against India could be banned from the Melbourne Cricket Ground for life if they are found to be involved in racial taunting of players and other fans, Cricket Australia (CA) said on Sunday.

Anyone caught doing so by undercover surveillance officers would be ejected from the ground and face further action.

“Our message to any mindless people who are thinking of going down that path is we won’t tolerate that sort of thing,” Peter Young, a CA spokesman, told Melbourne’s Herald Sun newspaper.

Police will also be checking for any offensive or racist slogans on banners while patrons will be encouraged to report any behaviour to ground staff or the police.

The players’ behaviour will also be monitored.

Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds was the subject of racial abuse on their tour of India earlier this year.

The first match of the four-test series between Australia and India begins at the MCG on Dec 26.—Reuters