Fans in stitches at Paris Olympics water polo as naughty stars forced to tread water in ‘prison’

OLYMPICS fans were left in hysterics after seeing water polo players treading water after being placed in the sin bin.

Surprise package of the tournament Australia looked to prove their opening win over defending champs Serbia wasn't a fluke against France on Thursday afternoon.

And they did just that with a stunning 9-8 victory over the host nation.

The Aussie's second successive upset at Paris 2024, understandably, sent shockwaves throughout the water polo world.

But fans catching a glimpse of their first-ever water polo match were left stunned after seeing players being resigned to the sin bin.

Unlike rugby, the players don't leave the field - or in this case, the water - while they're ineligible.

They keep themselves afloat in a small cordoned-off area of the pool, in which they have to exert energy to keep themselves afloat.

The bizarre sin bin quickly went viral and became the talk of social media.

One viewer wrote with a laughing emoji: "Oh yeah, so in water polo when you have a temporary exclusion we put you in a small prison."

Another said: ";The little exclusion box players have to tread water in is my favourite thing about water polo.

BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS

"Aussies fighting hard against the world championship bronze medallists."

One remarked: "The penalty box in water polo is so funny to me.

"It's just lane line prison."

Australia will be back in the pool tomorrow afternoon, taking on Canada.

France, meanwhile, will throw down with the United States of America in the evening.