"There are a lot of young people sitting here, and it was inappropriate," one spectator told The Age. "If he wants respect, he has to treat others with respect." This spectator, who was so concerned about young people and so insistent on the need for respect, was sitting in a crowd that in chorus was calling Harbhajan a "wanker".
Another spectator complained in the Herald Sun that Harbhajan spat in his direction, six or seven times. "Spitting is not on in my book," he said. "That's a bit out of line." This spectator, who was so upset by Harbhajan's demeanour, was wearing a fluorescent green T-shirt inscribed: "Monkey see … monkey do."
So the interaction between crowd and player can be summed up thus: crowd incites hothead to behave hotheadedly, then feigns offence at his hotheadedness. Crowd reserves right to deliver invective, but not to receive it. The spectator was right: that was no place for the young and impressionable