Wrong box checked on the visa application, stay in Spain not reported, meeting with young players and an interview with the team while he is positive, incorrect dates on the results of his PCR tests: still uncertain for the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic admitted on Wednesday that he had committed a series of what he calls “Errors” by completing their entry form to Australia. “We are living in difficult times with a global pandemic, and sometimes mistakes happen”, tried to justify himself the world number one in a message posted on Instagram.
Unvaccinated, Djokovic, who is currently training in hopes of participating in the tournament which begins on Monday, said his team had provided additional information to Australian authorities, who are considering revoking his visa again and deporting him. .
The 34-year-old was seen in public in Belgrade the day after December 16, when he tested positive, according to information he provided to Australian immigration officials. Claiming to be a victim of “disinformation” let him judge “Very hurtful” for his family, he explained that when he appeared in public on December 17, he had not yet received the result of his test, carried out the day before.
Journalists unpin
Obviously, not enough to convince the Australian press. On the TV channel Channel 7, two journalists believing themselves to be off the air, Mike Amor and Rebecca Maddern, called the player “Asshole”, according to a video relayed on social networks. “No matter how you look at this story, Djokovic is a fucking devious liar”, even let go of the journalist. So far, neither has reacted publicly. Channel 7, however, has launched an investigation to find the origin of the leak of this footage, says the site The Advertiser
Novak Djokovic arrived in Australia last week, claiming an exemption from vaccination against Covid-19 due to a positive test dated December 16. After a negative antigen test carried out on December 16 in parallel with the PCR test, he participated, on the 17th, in the launch of a stamp bearing his effigy in Serbia and in a meeting with young tennis players.
Photos published by the Serbian Tennis Federation show Djokovic with officials of this federation and around 20 teenagers, all without masks. The player claims to have carried out a second antigenic test, also negative, before this meeting. “I had no symptoms and felt well, and had not received the positive PCR test notification before the end of this event”, he explains.
“My agent offers his sincere apologies”
When he landed in Australia on January 5, the nine-time winner of the Australian Open was provided with a medical exemption from vaccination justified by two PCR test certificates. One positive for Covid, dated December 16, 2021. The other negative, dated December 22. However, according to the survey carried out by the German media, the positive test was actually carried out on December 26.
Djokovic, on the other hand, recognizes a “Error of judgment”, that of having received, then asymptomatic patient, journalists from the French daily L’Equipe for an interview. “I felt compelled to continue and to do the interview with the team because I didn’t want to let the reporter down, but I made sure to respect social distancing and wear a mask, except when my portrait was done, he explained. On reflection, it was an error in judgment and I admit that I should have postponed this engagement. ”
In an article published on Tuesday, the journalist from the team Franck Ramella and photographer Etienne Garnier indicated that Djokovic seemed “healthy” at the time of his interview. Franck Ramella – tested negative for Covid-19 since – indicates: “The instructions were clear: no questions about the vaccination and the Serbian’s intentions in view of his presence for the next Australian Open […] He was therefore not asked if he had considered getting tested. And if so, for what result. ” In the columns of the diary, he also tells that during the interview, “We were both protected, facing each other almost a meter away […]. Solicited […] to remove his mask for five minutes during the discussion, Djokovic refuses. “
“Djoker” also pleads “Human error” for checking the wrong box in the entry form to Australia. This form has been widely circulated by Australian media, and shows that the player has checked the box stating that he has not traveled in the 14 days prior to arriving in Australia on January 5th. However, the player was, during these two weeks, in Serbia then in Spain.
This declaration “Was submitted by my team on my behalf», Writes Djokovic on Instagram. “My agent sincerely apologizes for this administrative error in checking the wrong box regarding my trips prior to my arrival in Australia. It was human error and certainly not deliberate. ”
The player goes back the timeline of the case and explains having done a PCR test on December 16 because he had attended a basketball match in Belgrade the day before with several people who then tested positive.
Djokovic’s participation in the Australian Open, which starts on January 17, remains on the table. Returned to Melbourne Airport after his visa was canceled on January 5, Djokovic was placed in a detention center with a view to his deportation, but a judge ruled in his favor on January 10 and ordered his immediate release . Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke, however, said on Tuesday that he was considering revoking Djokovic’s visa again using his discretionary powers.
According to lawyer Christopher Levingston, an expert on immigration issues in Australia, the government has the option of revoking the visa on the grounds that a criminal offense has been committed, for example by making a false entry declaration.
Update : at 6:27 p.m., with insults from Australian journalists and explanations from journalists from the Team.