Djokovic case: An unprecedented sports, political and social scandal

“I had a fantastic quality time with my loved ones over the holidays and today I am heading to Australia on a waiver permit. Let's go 2022!” Novak Djokovic wrote on January 4. That message unleashed, two weeks later, one of the most notorious scandals in the history of tennis and sport worldwide.

The Australian Tennis Federation (TA) confirmed that a "medical waiver" was granted to Novak Djokovic so that he can play the first big tournament of the year.

Djokovic, who had refused to reveal whether or not he received the Covid-19 vaccine, previously said he was unsure about competing in Melbourne, due to concerns over restrictions in Australia.

According to a statement from the Victorian State Department of Health, they were the ones who evaluated the tennis player's applications, to see if he met the Australian Technical Advisory Group's guidelines on immunization.

“Fair and independent protocols were put in place to assess claims for medical exemptions, to ensure a safe and enjoyable Australian Open for all,” said TA Chairman Craig Tiley.

But what are Australia's medical exemptions for entering the country without being vaccinated?

Novak Djokovic arrived in Melbourne on January 5, with the intention of defending his title achieved in 2021 and, at the same time, trying to claim his 21st Grand Slam.

But the illusion of the tennis player did not last long. And that same day, the Australian Federal Government did not allow the Serb to enter due to the wrong visa.

Djokovic failed to pass through passport control, after a member of his support team made a serious mistake: he applied for a visa subclass that does not apply to those who received medical exemptions from a Covid-19 vaccine.

The arrival of the Serb in Melbourne caused much anger and criticism from citizens, who have been affected by one of the strictest and most extensive lockdowns in the world.

“We will not provide Novak Djokovic with assistance for the individual visa application to participate in the Grand Slam of the Australian Open 2022″, highlighted an official statement from Immigration.

At the same time, the government body warned: "We have always been clear on two points: visa approvals are a matter of the Federal Government and medical exemptions are a matter of doctors."

“The worm hotel”

Immediately, the tennis player was detained in a hotel managed by the immigration authorities, waiting for the Australian courts to address an appeal against his deportation.

Djokovic, 34, was staying at the Park Hotel in Melbourne, a site that houses about 32 detained migrants, from which no one can enter or leave except staff.

“Mr Djokovic is not being held captive in Australia (because) he is free to leave at any time he chooses to do so and the Border Force will surely make it easy for him,” said Home Secretary Karen Andrews .

The Park Hotel came to prominence in December 2021, when a fire in the building forced the evacuation of refugees and asylum seekers.

A week later, the asylum seekers posted images on social media showing the food they had been served, allegedly full of maggots.

Mehdi Ali, one of the detainees, said he was saddened that Djokovic is being held there. "The media will talk about us more, the whole world probably, which is very sad, just because Djokovic would be here for a few days," he noted.

Djokovic's imprisonment drew sympathy from a group of fans, who gathered outside the hotel, alongside refugee activists. While in Serbia, the tennis player's family, as well as the Belgrade Executive, claimed the athlete for "indecent treatment".

Similarly, anti-vaccine protesters protested outside the hotel and expressed their support for the tennis player.

Reaction of tennis players

Croatian first racket Marin Cilic considered the way world number one Novak Djokovic was treated in Australia to be wrong.

“It is unbelievable that this situation has occurred. But regardless of how the Australian government's entry or non-entry decision was or should be, the way it has all happened is not right, to whomever," Cilic said.

For their part, the American John Isner and the Australian Nick Kyrgios supported the Serb and demanded more humanity from the Australian authorities.

“Everything Novak is going through is not good. There is no justification for the treatment he receives. He complied with the rules, they let him into Australia, and now he's being held against his will. It's a shame," explained the American.

“Disgusting treatment of Djokovic”

Serbian Parliament Speaker Ivica Dacic has accused Australian authorities of “disgusting and shameful political mistreatment” of the tennis player.

This is “a disgusting political outrage and mistreatment, against a person that every country in the world would willingly accept as its citizen, and not just to come to a competition,” Dacic said in Belgrade.

At the same time, Srdjan Djokovic, Novak's father, compared Friday, January 7, Christmas Day for Orthodox Christianity, his son's problems in Australia with those of Jesus Christ and accused the government of that country of wanting to humiliate him.

“Jesus also had problems, they did everything to him, but he is still alive among us. So too Novak. He is the heart of Serbia, of the free world!” he exclaimed before hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the Serbian Parliament in Belgrade.

Other institutions such as the Serbian Tennis Federation and the Serbian Olympic Committee also repudiated the treatment of Djokovic.

Political tension between Serbia and Australia

The speaker of the Serbian Parliament, Ivica Dacic, stated that Serbia's relations with Australia will suffer, due to the way in which the authorities of that country are treating ' Nole'.

“Such treatment is shameful and it must be made clear to Australia,” Dacic told Serbian public television station RTS.

“The case is not special or specific, here it is about the politicization of the matter”, added the parliamentarian.

Meanwhile, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic had a “constructive” conversation with Australia's head of diplomacy, Marise Peyne, who showed understanding for the athlete's situation.

“It has been a constructive conversation. She understands everything," Brnabic told Pink television.

“The Serbian government is willing to offer any guarantee for Novak, to let him enter Australia. The president is also involved," he added.

Djokovic participated in public events after testing positive for Covid-19

The commotion grew after photos of Djokovic were made public, showing him participating in public events without a mask at a time when he According to his lawyers, he was infected.

Dated December 17, that is, one day after Djokovic tested positive, the website of the Serbian tennis federation contains information about the tennis player's participation in an awards ceremony for young people.

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“The best tennis player on the planet (…), who for the seventh time ends the year at the helm of the ATP”, presented the awards to the best young players in 2021 in Belgrade, highlighted the federation.

Only the laureate children attended the delivery of the trophies, at the Novak Tennis Center, in Dorcol (a neighborhood of Belgrade), with no other audience due to epidemiological measures due to the coronavirus pandemic, he said.

The information was accompanied by photographs in which Djokovic appears smiling next to the winners without a mask, images also published on the federation's Facebook account.

In this context and a few days after the photos were leaked, the athlete admitted having made “human errors” in the documents to enter Australia and attend an interview with a sports media outlet after learning of his positive result.

A court battle

On January 10, an Australian court ordered Djokovic's release. Judge Anthony Kelly, of the Melbourne Federal Circuit Court, forced the Australian government to implement the release as soon as possible, hand over his passport and personal effects, and pay legal costs.

In the virtual session, the Australian government agreed to reverse its decision to cancel the visa, although lawyer Christopher Tran said Immigration Minister Alex Hawke considered using his special powers to deport Djokovic .

This potential move by Executive Scott Morrison, who is seeking re-election this year, would be "very worrying," Judge Kelly said when weighing the potential consequences.

Second visa cancellation

On Friday, January 14, Australia canceled the tennis player's visa for the second time, based on Covid-19 entry regulations.

Djokovic's lawyers filed their request for injunction three hours after Immigration Minister Alex Hawke used his discretionary powers to revoke the visa.

The Age newspaper reported that the 34-year-old Serb had been summoned to appear before immigration officials.

Hawke said: "I have exercised my power under section 133C(3) of the Immigration Act to cancel Mr. Novak Djokovic's visa for reasons of health and good order, on the grounds that it was in the public interest to do so." .

According to this article, Djokovic will not be able to obtain a visa to Australia for three years, except in compelling circumstances.

Chronicle of a “death” announced

Djokovic lost on January 16, in an Australian court, the appeal against the government's decision to revoke his visa for the second time, for which he was deported.

The decision was made unanimously by the three Federal Court judges.

Under the law, Djokovic also faces a three-year ban on returning to the country, except in certain cases, which may include "compelling circumstances affecting Australia's interests."

Return to Serbia

The number one tennis player in the world landed in Belgrade on Monday, January 17, amid great expectations.

The athlete, considered a hero in Serbia, arrived in the capital after noon locally on a plane from Dubai, where he made a stopover on his return from Australia.

Djokovic left the airport by another exit than usual to avoid journalists, and they affirm that the tennis player will not make any statements until the Australian Open ends (January 30).

Several hundred supporters, some carrying Serbian flags, gathered in front of the Belgrade airport building to support him with shouts like “Novak, you are our champion” and “Nole, Nole (Djokovic's nickname)”, but no they could see their idol.

What about the other tournaments?

The president of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, underlined the controversy over the expulsion of tennis player Novak Djokovic from Australia that the rules are to be complied with, and assured that If you want to compete in Spain, you must comply with those in force in the country.

“If those are the rules that the Australian government has approved, they have to be met. Absolute respect and support for the decisions that have been made," added the Spanish president.

On the other hand, Djokovic could be excluded from playing at Roland Garros, depending on the current circumstances, after the French sports ministry said there will be no exemption from the country's new vaccination certificate law.

France's vaccination pass law, approved by Parliament, will require people to have a vaccination certificate to enter public places such as restaurants, cafes, cinemas and long-distance trains.

“The rule is simple. The vaccination card will be imposed, as of the promulgation of the law, in establishments that were already subject to the health card," the ministry said.

“It will apply to all who are spectators or professional athletes. And this until further notice.

While, in the case of the US Open and Wimbledon, Djokovic will also face many obstacles if he does not get the full vaccination schedule.

Both the American and British government authorities have been emphatic in demanding the vaccine from their entire population and from foreigners.

And that was not all

The clothing brand Lacoste, Djokovic's main sponsor, will ask him to account for the controversy of recent days in Australia.

“As soon as possible, we will contact him to review the events that have marked his presence in Australia,” the house of the crocodile said in a statement, which the Serb has worn on his chest since he signed a multimillion-dollar contract in 2017 and left the Japanese Uniclo.

Lacoste is the first of Djokovic's sponsors to show their dissatisfaction with the tennis player's attitude.

The French brand thanked the tournament organizers for their efforts to "ensure that it is held in good conditions for the players, coaching staff and spectators".

Boris Becker and his recommendation

The German tennis player Boris Becker, the Serbian tennis player's coach, regretted everything that happened in Melbourne and, in conclusion, recommended that his team be vaccinated.

“Regulations will become more stringent than relaxed. Therefore, my opinion would be: try to understand that if you get vaccinated it will be easier for you. I don't know if it will," Becker said.

Now, Djokovic's immediate future is uncertain. And it is that, to participate in several of the tournaments of the ATP circuit, he must present his vaccination card with a complete scheme. The Serbian could lose ground and give up several points.

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