The AFL has said it has "no issue" with national flags being brought into football games, after a leaked email from an AFL employee suggested the Israeli flag spotted in the crowd at Saturday's North Melbourne vs. West Coast game should have been confiscated.
The AFL released a statement on Wednesday describing the email -- written by the AFL's security lead -- as an "incorrect interpretation" of the league's conditions of entry, which says patrons cannot bring into stadiums "commercial, political, religious or offensive signage or logos of any kind."
The email, obtained by SEN earlier this week, said Marvel Stadium management should have confiscated the flag from the fan, who brought it to the game to support Kangaroos debutant Harry Sheezel, who is Jewish.
"Once identified, [the flag] should then have been requested to be seized/confiscated or the patron in possession requested to leave if they refused to surrender the flag," the email said.
But the AFL has now described the correspondence as an "incorrect interpretation" of the match day entry requirements.
"For clarity, the AFL has no issue with the flag and signs supporting North Melbourne's Harry Sheezel on the weekend," Wednesday's statement said.
"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.
"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."
Sheezel made his debut for North Melbourne on Saturday, picking up 34 disposals in his side's Round 1 win.