Vancouver Whitecaps fans holding 'refugees welcome' banner told to leave

Three fans who were chanting "refugees welcome" at a Vancouver Whitecaps game last weekend were told to leave and had their banner confiscated.

Natalie Blair, one of the threepeople who wasshown the door on Saturday, said they weremembers of alocal soccer team, Left Wingers FC, and they wanted to bring attention to the Syrian refugee crisis.

The plight of the the Syrian refugees has received intense scrutiny in Canada, after the fatal drowning of three-year-old AlanKurdi, whose familywas trying to escape to Canada and unite with relatives in Coquitlam, B.C.

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Blair saidthe group was inspired by soccer fans around the world that have raised similar banners at games. The trio had painted the sign earlier in the week.

She said she was told by some security guards that they had to leave because their message was political, while a police officer told them the area they were in was closed off.

An edited video of the event showsthe group chanting "refugees welcome" during the game.Security officials and a Vancouver police officer are seen talking with thegroup, telling them to put the banner away, and them removing one of the members from the area.

Whitecaps says group was 'inappropriate'

The Whitecaps issued a statement saying theejection was due to "inappropriate behaviour and fan misconduct"and was not related to the banner.

"We appreciate the sentiment and good intentions behind this banner,"said a Whitecaps spokesman in anemailto CBC.

"It is not about whether we agree or disagree with the content of a banner, but whether our matches are the appropriate venue for such expression."

The club said the four-metre banner was taken downand returned to the group after thematch.

Blair deniedshe and her teammates were disruptive.

"We were all calm and fine. The only thing we were saying is 'refugeeswelcome,'" she said.

"We didn't want to disrupt anything or have the banner confiscated. We wanted to spread awareness."