A SYDNEY RSL club has been forced to cancel a video game tournament following a backlash from war veterans.

Castle Hill RSL was due to hold a Call of Duty WWII tournament on May 8 but was forced to can the idea following complaints to Minister for Veterans’ Affairs David Elliot who called it “distasteful” and “inappropriate”, the ABC reported.

The popular game sees players shoot each other dead.

Those due to take part in the tournament were competing for $300 prize money, just two weeks after Anzac Day.

Speaking to the ABC Mr Elliot said he has never played the game but said the tournament was “distasteful” and “inappropriate” and he raised the issue following complaints from veterans.

“In this case, Castle Hill RSL is offering up to $300 in prize money if you kill enough people,” he said.

“I do think promoting war as entertainment a week after Anzac Day, in front of veterans and war widows is probably just stepping over the line.”

David O’Neil, Chief executive officer of Castle Hill RSL, said several eSports events had been in the past “without incident”.

However he accepted that “the WWII focus of this promotion is not an appropriate one for an RSL club”.

It wouldn’t be the first time veterans have been up in arms over a promotion or campaign.

In 2015, Woolworths was forced to withdraw its Fresh in our Memories’ Anzac website following an outcry.

The campaign encouraged people to share stories and pictures of loved ones affected by or lost to war on a website that then branded them with Woolworths logo and the phrase “Lest we Forget 1915-2015. Fresh in our memories.”

Veteran’s Affairs Minister Michael Ronaldson said the supermarket giant didn’t have permission to use the word “Anzac”, which is protected under Australian law.