Saturday, June 20, 2026
ADVT 
International

Sikh Man Kicked Out Of Wimbledon Queue For 'Making People Uncomfortable'

IANS, 13 Jul, 2016 12:45 PM
    A 20-year-old Sikh man was kicked out of an overnight queue to watch the Wimbledon tennis championships as he apparently made other people around him "uncomfortable".
     
    Govindpal Kooner took to Facebook last week to voice his anger at being thrown out and claimed it was an act of racism, cases of which have reported a rise in the wake of Britain's vote to leave the European Union (EU).
     
    He wrote on Friday: "Kicked out of the overnight camping line for centre court Wimbledon line 'because you make some people around you uncomfortable, so we're gonna have to report you and ask you to leave immediately, sir'".
     

    "Post-Brexit racism and the overt rise of neo-facism. Please advise how best to report this," he said.
     
    The sportsman who himself dreams of playing professional tennis was eventually allowed to enter the ground after re-queuing in the line a few hours later and made an official complaint about his treatment.
     
    "I felt awful. I felt like I should've fought and negotiated but I backed down and silently left. I don't feel like I'm ever going back now. It's still one of my favourite tournaments but can no longer definitively say it's a lifelong dream to play on centre court," he was quoted as saying by Metro.
     
    Dozens of people responded to his post saying he should report the "discrimination" to police.
     
    A Wimbledon spokesperson said: "We can confirm that a gentleman was asked to leave the queue at 4.42 am this morning (Friday) after a number of complaints from his fellow queuers about his behaviour."
     
    He has previously been warned about his conduct in The Queue on up to six separate occasions during this year's Championships.
     
    "We do acknowledge, however, that in this instance the event safety staff could have provided a better explanation to him. Happily, the same person has been in the Grounds today (Friday) watching the tennis," he said.
     
    But the man insists he did nothing that would warrant being escorted off the grounds, was not intoxicated, loud or aggressive and had not been previously warned about his behaviour.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Teacher banned for sending topless selfie to student

    Teacher banned for sending topless selfie to student
    A British teacher has been banned from teaching for five years for sending her bare-breasted pictures to a 16-year-old student....

    Teacher banned for sending topless selfie to student

    US federal court revokes ban on same-sex marriages

    US federal court revokes ban on same-sex marriages
    A federal court in the US has passed a ruling revoking the ban on same-sex marriages in Idaho and Nevada a day after the country's Supreme Court...

    US federal court revokes ban on same-sex marriages

    Ebola Escapes Europe's Defences: Madrid Scrambles To Contain The Virus; Orders Dog Killed

    Ebola Escapes Europe's Defences: Madrid Scrambles To Contain The Virus; Orders Dog Killed
    Health officials scrambled Tuesday to figure out how West Africa's Ebola outbreak got past Europe's defences, quarantining four people at a Madrid hospital where a Spanish nursing assistant became infected.

    Ebola Escapes Europe's Defences: Madrid Scrambles To Contain The Virus; Orders Dog Killed

    Sad that India unable to restrain forces: Pakistan

    Sad that India unable to restrain forces: Pakistan
    Pakistan Tuesday said it is "sad" that India "has not been able to restrain its forces despite strong diplomatic protest by Pakistan" and called upon the Indian government...

    Sad that India unable to restrain forces: Pakistan

    Death of Mountie who drew attention to PTSD a terrible loss: RCMP

    Death of Mountie who drew attention to PTSD a terrible loss: RCMP
    FREDERICTON - The RCMP's commanding officer in New Brunswick says the death of Cpl. Ron Francis, who helped draw attention to the issue of post-traumatic stress disorder, is a terrible loss.

    Death of Mountie who drew attention to PTSD a terrible loss: RCMP

    Modi, Obama have infused 'new energy' into ties: NYT

    Modi, Obama have infused 'new energy' into ties: NYT
    Suggesting that US President Barack and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had infused "new energy" into their stalled bilateral relationship, the....

    Modi, Obama have infused 'new energy' into ties: NYT