The latest developments
The dispute over Novak Djokovic’s entry concerns the courts and the Australian Ministry of the Interior. A final decision as to whether the Serb can compete in the first major tournament of the year is still pending.
Novak Djokovic could win the Australian Open for the tenth time this year – if he is allowed to compete.
The latest developments
- The tennis world number one Novak Djokovic commented on Monday (January 10th) himself about the conflict about his entry. Djokovic was connected to a press conference of his family in Belgrade via livestream. The premises of the press conference were decorated with trophies, a portrait and a bust of the tennis star – Serbian pop music played before the families’ statements. Mother Dijana, father Srdjan and brother Djordje Djokovic sat on the podium.
First, Djordje Djokovic thanked his brother for the support. «We have beautiful pictures from all over the world. We would like to say thank you, also to the Australian legal system. ” At last one could have shown the world what the truth was and that Novak Djokovic was a good person.
During the press conference there was repeated applause from the Serbian journalists for the statements made by the Djokovic family.
- The Australian immigration minister Alex Hawke will probably not decide on Monday (January 10th) whether or not to veto Novak Djokovic’s entry. This is reported by the daily newspaper “The Age” from Melbourne. Accordingly, Djokovic is allowed to move freely. Fans in traditional Serbian costumes and with Serbian flags gathered in front of his attorneys’ office in Melbourne. According to agency reports, chaotic scenes occurred: the supporters blocked a car with darkened windows, which they thought Djokovic was sitting in. Some danced and sang in the street, one person jumped on the roof of the vehicle. When the situation escalated, the police used pepper spray against the supporters.
- Novak Djokovic achieved partial success in front of an Australian court on Monday (January 10th). Judge Anthony Kelly overturned the visa cancellation. Djokovic was allowed to leave the quarantine hotel in Melbourne. The 34-year-old Serb is still threatened with expulsion because, according to agency reports, the Australian immigration minister could revoke his visa again and deport Djokovic.
Police pepper sprayed a group of fans after they blocked the path of a car they believed was carrying Djokovic
Fans were banging on the window, throwing bottles at the car and two people were jumping up and down on top of it @theage https://t.co/AdK3kmQmWr pic.twitter.com/vwyYrofJZg
– Paul Sakkal (@paulsakkal) January 10, 2022
Novak Djokovic landed in Melbourne last Wednesday (January 5th) at 11:30 p.m. local time. At the airport, however, he was refused entry and his visa was later canceled. Djokovic was questioned by border guards and then taken to a quarantine hotel.
The Australian authorities have published parts of the minutes of this interview. In it, Djokovic states that he was not vaccinated against the corona virus. However, he was sick twice, in June 2020 and December 2021.
The Australian authorities took the position that Djokovic had not provided adequate evidence to meet the entry requirements. The world number one lawyers then appealed against the authorities’ decision.
The course of events after the arrival at the airport contributed to the decision to grant the objection, as the judge Anthony Kelly made clear. At 5:20 a.m. local time last Thursday morning (January 6), Djokovic was informed that he had until 8:30 a.m. to comment on the revocation of the visa. He was asked from 6:14 a.m., the decision to cancel the visa was made at 7:42 a.m. – too early.
Only fully vaccinated players are allowed to take part in the Australian Open, the first major tournament of the year. For unvaccinated professionals, however, there is the possibility of obtaining a special permit. The requirements for this are strict. Anyone who has suffered from heart disease in the past three months, had an allergic reaction to the vaccines or who tested positive for Corona in the past six months is exempt from the obligation to vaccinate.
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 – even if they wanted to visit dying parents or children. Fully vaccinated foreigners are not expected to re-enter Australia until February.
Over 3000 players, helpers and media professionals were accredited for the Australian Open. According to the organizers, 26 of them applied for a special permit; only a few applications were granted.
Djokovic said he fell ill with Corona in mid-December. He apparently believed that this reason was enough for entry to Australia. The positive corona test also caused a stir in other ways. Djokovic’s lawyers said according to the BBC, the tennis star delivered a positive PCR test on December 16. On the same day, however, Djokovic took part in a ceremony at which a postage stamp with his likeness was presented. The next day, Djokovic is said to have attended a meeting with children in his tennis center.
Regardless, there are apparently additional rules for entering Australia. In a letter from the Australian Tennis Association, unvaccinated people were instructed in a two-step process to declare that they had had Covid-19 in the last six months. But the information was probably partly wrong or not precise enough.
Recovered foreigners are only exempt from the obligation to vaccinate if they can prove that they could not have been vaccinated for medical reasons even before the infection. This is what the Australian Technical Advisory Group of Immunization states in its position paper.
Tennis Australia was informed in writing of this fact on November 18th and 19th. The letter that the players received is dated December 7th
The decision sparked great anger among many Australians. 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”.
A journalist for the TV station ABC, Samantha Lewis, wrote on Twitter: “It is the patriotic duty of the audience to boo Djokovic non-stop.” And her professional colleague Andy Maher wrote: “This guy – who has taken extraordinary liberties in the face of the coronavirus – gets his exception.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s government has loudly criticized any special treatment for Djokovic. The politicians have promised the population a nice Australian summer with trips and celebrations after their hardships. But Omikron thwarted the bill. Bars and clubs are closed, the test laboratories are at the limit, and public transport is paralyzed. In addition, the shelves in the supermarkets are empty because the staff and many truck drivers are sick or in quarantine.
For Prime Minister Morrison, the Djokovic affair came at just the right time in the eyes of many voters to divert attention from the failure of the federal government and to show strength.
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.
The tennis star’s father, Srdjan Djokovic, also made a strong mood against his son’s refused entry. He said: “Australia is trampling on the Serbian people.” After the judge’s decision, Srdjan Djokovic said: «Novak will not leave Australia. He will continue to fight it and stay in prison for as long as necessary. “
With agency material.