“Obviously we [Taiwanese] were targeted because Chinese fans were sitting in the front row seat on the lower level holding a Chinese national flag that exceeded the size allowed by the IOC” (International Olympic Committee)," said Sandy Hsueh, president of the Taiwanese Association in France.

A staff member told her they had “received an instruction from the Olympic Games saying that anything related to Taiwan or showing Taiwan cannot appear,” Hsueh said.

Many spectators recorded evidence of a Chinese woman holding a mobile phone, who stood next to the security personnel and directing them to confiscate signs and banners from Taiwanese supporters, Hsueh said.

Another supporter took pictures of the woman thanking the staff and volunteers after the game and giving them badges, she said.

The incidents follow similar scenes during Lee and Wang’s semi-final on Friday, when a Taiwanese spectator’s banner was snatched by an unidentified man, who was reportedly ejected by venue staff.