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Anti-Muslim banner mars western derby

The AFL faces another week of trying to stop anti-Muslim groups from attending games after an offensive banner was erected during Saturday night’s western derby at Domain Stadium.

A banner reading ‘Go WCE, Stop the Mosques’ was briefly erected at halftime in West Coast’s 33-point win over Fremantle.

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Security and venue staff quickly removed the banner while four people were evicted from the ground and issued with banning notices.

The offensive banner at the MCG.

The offensive banner at the MCG. Twitter.

The incident comes just over a week after a similar anti-Muslim banner was unfurled during Collingwood’s win over Richmond at the MCG.

That banner read ‘Go Pies! Stop the Mosques’.

The far-right group United Patriots Front has claimed responsibility for both banners.

The group posted a series of videos on its Facebook page after unfurling the banner at Domain Stadium on Saturday night.

In one video, a group member called Oz is shown smiling to the camera as he is led away by police in handcuffs.

Both the AFL and West Australian Football Commission condemned the group’s antics.

Just last week, AFL boss Gillon McLachlan said he would not tolerate groups trying to use the game to vilify sections of the community.

“We will be working with police and the AFL to ban these people from returning to Domain Stadium,” WAFC acting chief executive Gavin Taylor said.

“This type of behaviour is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”

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