AFL releases statement amid flag controversy

The AFL has clarified that the league has no issues with fans displaying flags while at the football, in the wake of reports a North Melbourne fan was told their Israeli flag shouldn't have been allowed into Marvel Stadium due to league policy.

The Star of David was displayed at the Saturday afternoon game, in support of North's debutant Harry Sheezel, however reports from SEN stated that AFL security admitted the flag should have been confiscated.

“Once identified, it should then have been requested to be seized/confiscated or the patron in possession requested to leave if they refused to surrender the flag,” AFL security lead Alistair Meldrum wrote to a fan.

“This has been communicated to MSL Venue Management.”

The AFL has now admitted in a league statement that the correspondence sent by security was an "incorrect interpretation" of their match day policies and they have no issue with the flag.

"An AFL match day is a place for everyone, we want fans to celebrate their clubs and players, and if that includes displaying national flags that amplify any of their team's player heritage then the AFL is fully supportive. We should celebrate our players and the game any chance we get," the league statement read.

"For clarity, the AFL has no issue with the flag and signs supporting North Melbourne's Harry Sheezel on the weekend. Correspondence sent to a patron that had an issue with the flag being displayed was an incorrect interpretation of our conditions of match day entry policy and we apologise for any confusion.

"The AFL conditions of entry policy in place, that amongst other things, regulates signage, flags and banners brought into our venues that have commercial and/or political messages. The AFL and our venues enforce this policy where appropriate.

"The AFL is proud of our diverse and wide-ranging backgrounds, faiths, and origins of all our players and encourage fans to continue to celebrate it accordingly."