Novak Djokovic flew to Australia on Wednesday but is not allowed to enter. According to the Australian media, this is due to an incorrect visa application and the lack of important documents.
Novak Djokovic could win the 21st major in Melbourne, overtaking Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
At 11:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m. CET), a plane with Novak Djokovic on board landed at Melbourne Airport on Wednesday. But the Australian authorities refused entry to the tennis world number 1. The 34-year-old Serb was stuck in the airport for hours. Reported around 10 p.m. local time Australian mediathat his visa had been canceled and that Djokovic would therefore have to leave. It was said that he should take the next plane to Serbia. The Australian Border Guard confirmed that Djokovic had been refused entry. The authority said that Djokovic had not submitted any suitable evidence to fulfill the entry requirements and that “the visa was subsequently canceled”. Australian media reported, however, that Djokovic’s team had applied for the wrong visa. Djokovic’s lawyers want to challenge the decision.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Twitter: «Laws are laws, especially when it comes to our borders. Nobody is above the law. “
Mr Djokovic’s visa has been canceled. Rules are rules, especially when it comes to our borders. No one is above these rules. Our strong border policies have been critical to Australia having one of the lowest death rates in the world from COVID, we are continuing to be vigilant.
– Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) January 5, 2022
In Serbia, the procedure causes a lot of excitement. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic wrote on Instagram that he had spoken to Djokovic on the phone and assured him that the whole country was by his side. Serbia will fight for novak, truth and justice. Vucic also hired the Australian ambassador in Belgrade. Srdjan Djokovic, the tennis player’s father, told Serbian media that his son had been held captive. If he is not released immediately, people will go out on the streets.
Djokovic had traveled to Melbourne to play in the first Grand Slam tournament of the year. The Australian Open starts on January 17th. Djokovic would only have been allowed to compete in the Rod Laver Arena thanks to a special permit. He has always refused to reveal his vaccination status and is apparently not vaccinated. However, the rules for participating in the Australian Open are clear. Either a player is double-vaccinated or, like Djokovic, he receives a special permit from two independent expert bodies.
The criteria for such approval are strict. It is only issued because of a heart disease in the last three months, an allergic reaction to the vaccines, a corona disease in the last six months or other acute health risks.
Djokovic would have the same rights as a double vaccinated person in the state of Victoria thanks to the special permit. He would not have to go into quarantine, visit restaurants and not have to be tested during the Australian Open.
No proof of the exemption?
The background to the turbulence at Djokovic’s entry are problems with the visa, reports Australian media. In addition, Djokovic has according to the newspaper “The Age” no proof of the exemption is presented, but this is required of every unvaccinated immigrant. Australian media speculate that Djokovic wants to claim corona disease in the last six months and enter the country as recovered.
There is also talk of an incorrect visa application. The border guards at Melbourne Airport had therefore asked the authorities of the state of Victoria for assistance. They asked for a written application, which they promptly refused. Victoria’s Sports Minister Jaala Pulford wrote on Twitter that Djokovic would not be granted a visa.
The refusal by the sports minister and the difficulties with entry show how great the lack of understanding about Djokovic’s behavior in politics and the authorities is. The tennis star has become a persona non grata in the Australian population.
Update on # AusOpen2022…
The Federal Government has asked if we will support Novak Djokovic’s visa application to enter Australia.
We will not be providing Novak Djokovic with individual visa application support to participate in the 2022 Australian Open Grand Slam.
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– Jaala Pulford MP (@JaalaPulford) January 5, 2022
Borders were closed until November 2021 – even for Australians
The announcement of the special permit for Djokovic had already sparked great anger among the Australian population. The country has repeatedly adopted strict measures to contain the coronavirus. After just a few cases, entire cities were sent into lockdown. Melbourne, the host of the Australian Open, has survived six lockdowns. A user commented on social networks that Djokovic was allowed to play at the Australian Open was a “slap in the face for all Australians”.
Another reason for the violent reactions is likely to be that the Australian government also kept the borders closed to citizens from March 2020 to early November 2021. Australians who studied or worked abroad were no longer allowed to return home. Fully vaccinated foreigners will probably not be allowed to re-enter until February.
Sports reporter Andy Maher therefore tweeted: “This guy – who has taken extraordinary liberties in the face of the coronavirus – gets his exception.” It’s not the first time Djokovic has caused a stir in the context of the pandemic. In June 2020 he initiated the Adria Tour, a tournament series in the Balkans. This had to be canceled after two out of five tournaments due to numerous corona cases. Djokovic was also infected at the time, but was unreasonable. “I would do the Adriatic tour again,” he said.
“Djokovic is about to become the country’s least popular visitor”
Maher’s professional colleague Samantha Lewis expressed herself even more violently on Twitter. The journalist of the TV channel ABC wrote: “It is the patriotic duty of the audience to constantly boo Djokovic.” And «The Age» commented: «Djokovic would be well advised to refrain from his usual ‘heartbreaking’ celebration in the Rod Laver Arena. He is about to become the country’s least popular visitor. “
everybody attending the Australian Open has a patriotic duty to boo Djokovic for the entirety of his stay. This is an obscene decision and organizers should be fucking ashamed of themselves.
– Samantha Lewis (@battledinosaur) January 4, 2022
The public outcry also called politics on the scene. Prime Minister Scott Morrison asked Djokovic to prove that the authorization was rightly granted. Morrison said, “Otherwise he’ll be sent back on the first plane. There will be no special treatment for him, not the least. “
The tournament director of the Australian Open, Craig Tiley, tried to appease and defended the exemption. He said: “Anyone who met the requirements was granted entry. Nobody was particularly favored, there was no special treatment for Novak. “
Around 3,000 players, helpers, media professionals and other staff have been accredited for the Australian Open. According to Tiley, 26 of them have applied for a special permit. “Only a handful of the requests were granted,” he said. Like the Prime Minister, Tiley Djokovic also called for the reason for receiving the exemption to be disclosed.
Djokovic would have had the chance to win the tournament for the tenth time at the Australian Open. If he had managed that, he would be the sole record holder with 21 major titles in front of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.