Melbourne (AP) – Australian authorities have rejected allegations by Novak Djokovic’s family that they have been holding the tennis star like a prisoner since his arrival in Melbourne.
“Mr Djokovic is not being held in Australia, he can go at any time, and the border guards would be happy to help,” said Interior Secretary Karen Andrews on ABC News on Friday. At the same time, she confirmed two other problem cases in connection with the Australian Open, which are now being examined by the border guards.
Andrews defended the actions of the authorities, telling the TV channel Seven Network that Djokovic had failed to provide the correct information for his entry into Australia: “It will be required of anyone entering the country. If this information cannot be provided , the entry requirements for Australia are not met. ” The further investigations are about two people who have also arrived because of the Australian Open, which begins on January 17th. She did not mention names.
Djokovic has been criticized for days
Actually, the rule in Australia is that only travelers with a vaccination against the coronavirus are allowed into the country. According to tournament boss Craig Tiley, 26 professionals or supervisors applied for a special permit at the Australian Open. In a “handful” of cases it worked. Defending champion Djokovic is the only one known by name and has been criticized for days – especially since the 34-year-old has not yet disclosed the reason for the controversial approval.
The Serb, who recovered from a corona infection in mid-2020, has spoken out against compulsory vaccination and has always kept his vaccination status a secret. When he landed in Melbourne late on Wednesday evening (local time), the border guards saw the entry rules in his case as not being met – so that the world number one had to spend two nights in a hotel for those obliged to leave the country, which also accommodated rejected asylum seekers. Djokovic has sued against it. A court in Melbourne wants to make a decision on Monday.
In Australia, the impression of preferential treatment for the nine-time Australian Open winner had triggered anger and outrage – especially since even numerous citizens of the country were unable to travel to their homes for a long time during the pandemic because Australia had sealed itself off to protect itself against the introduction of the corona virus.
Serbian President outraged
Unsurprisingly, the athlete’s case is perceived differently in the athlete’s camp. Djokovic is “in prison” in Australia, his father Srdjan railed on Thursday at a press conference in Belgrade, in which he stylized his son as a “freedom fighter”. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic was also outraged about “the harassment of the best tennis player in the world”, Prime Minister Ana Brnabić accused the Australian authorities of political motives for their dealings with Djokovic. The Serbian Foreign Ministry even asked the Australian ambassador in Belgrade to speak to Djokovic because of the “inappropriate and inhumane treatment”.
How exactly Djokovic received his medical exemption and why his free entry ultimately failed is still not known. One thing is clear: At the Australian Open, vaccination is mandatory for tennis professionals for the first time at a top event. According to Australian media, the problem seems to be that the tournament management and the state of Victoria, whose capital is Melbourne, granted Djokovic an exception to participate in the Australian Open – but this does not per se entitle him to enter the country beforehand.
Entry criteria not met
According to reports, Djokovic obtained the exemption to participate in the Grand Slam tournament on the basis of his corona infection, reported the Australian news agency AAP. From the point of view of the Australian government and the border guards, the criteria for entry to Australia are not met – a vaccination remains mandatory. That is why the athlete’s visa was canceled after it was checked by the authorities at the airport.
Home Secretary Andrews simply said: “There is a lot of talk about the visa. In my understanding, the visa is not the problem at all – it is the entry requirements.”
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