Controversial Exception: Australia denies Djokovic entry

Tennis pro Novak Djokovic’s medical exemption allowing him to start at the Australian Open is not enough for entry. He had to leave again.

Novak Djokovic was rejected when he tried to enter Australia. This was announced by the Australian Border Guard. “Non-citizens who do not have a valid visa upon arrival or whose visa has been revoked will be detained and deported from Australia,” the statement said. Djokovic was due to be released on Thursday (06.01.2022 / local time), but his lawyers objected, according to The Age.

The Australian Border Force issued a statement early Thursday (local time) stating that Djokovic had failed to provide adequate evidence to meet entry requirements and therefore “the visa was later revoked”. However, Australian media reported that Djokovic’s team had applied for a false visa.

“They portray him as a criminal”

“This is a disgrace. Deportation,” his father Srdjan Djokovic told the Serbian newspaper Blic on Wednesday evening. “I can not talk to my son. They portray him as a criminal. I have no words for everything they did to him.”

Shortly after landing in Melbourne, the mockery of Djokovic took the next turn. His though The controversial medical exemption is set to begin at the Australian Open Border guards initially denied entry to Serbs who were probably not vaccinated because his visa was invalid.

Documents will not be accepted

According to media reports, no medical exemptions were granted to those who were not vaccinated in the documents submitted by Djokovic. For this reason, authorities in the Australian state of Victoria refused to support Djokovic, who was stranded at the airport until Thursday night.

Sturgeon Djokovic told the B92 Internet portal on Wednesday that his son was being held in a safe room. “Novak is currently in a room where no one can enter. “There are two police officers in front of the room.”

The Australian head of state announced drastic action

At a press conference before Djokovic’s arrival, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison demanded that the Grand Slam record champion present evidence justifying his exemption after his arrival. Otherwise, Djokovic may be denied entry – that’s what happened.

“If this evidence is not enough, he will not be treated differently than everyone else and will be home on the next flight,” Morrison declared: “There should be no special rules for Novak Djokovic. Nothing.”

Home Secretary Karen Andrews also spoke clearly. “Any person wishing to enter Australia must comply with our strict border regulations,” he said. When Victoria and Tennis Australia’s state government allows an unvaccinated player to enter the tournament, the boundary rules are overseen by the national government.

Meanwhile, Serbian President Alexander Vucci is also involved in a bizarre hanging game about Djokovic entering Australia. “I talked to him on the phone and told him Serbia was all with him,” Vusic wrote on Instagram on Wednesday evening.

He continued: “Our authorities will take all measures to stop the harassment of the best tennis player in the world in the short term. In accordance with all the rules of international law, Serbia will fight for justice and truth for Novak Djokovic.”

Is there no special treatment for Djokovic?

At this year’s first Grand Slam, the Australian Open (January 17), all participants must be vaccinated or given a medical exemption. Djokovic, the Melbourne record champion with nine titles, was not publicly vaccinated, but two independent medical expert teams gave him special permission to start at the Australian Open.

Tournament director Craig Tyley denied special treatment for the world number one, but the Australian media on Wednesday expressed incomprehensibility and anger. “Rules are rules – unless you are as rich and famous as Djokovic,” wrote The Age newspaper.

Source: sportschau.de