Topic: Novak Djokovic's VISA got cancelled [Australian Open 2022] (Read 110 times)

I think it’s a fair that Novak Djokovic got denied entry for failing to provide valid vaccine documentation. Personally, I think vaccine requirements are a bit of government overreach.
However, if you’re going to require vaccines for tourists, all people visiting should follow the rules and that includes sports celebrities.

It’s not decided yet but there are appeals ongoing & people trying to prove his claimed exemption for not taking the vaccine. Hopefully he is able to compete, the Oz Government has been so strict throughout though. There is no guarantee they will accept his exemption claims.

On a light hearted note, kinda funny his first name is Novak i.e. Novax lol.

Agreed. Everyone must understand that such measures are exercised now by every country as a way of protecting public safety. And if ever they would allow an entrant in their country or region without undergoing and completing the right protocols then that would also mean allowing a threat to public welfare to enter. Considering that other players were able to follow policies regarding the need for vaccination should have moved Djokovic to also follow such.

Well the problem is that the Victorian government is known to have a strictest policy on foreigners entering their soil without taking the jab isn't it? So that is the simply tenent here, no vaccine, no entry even if you have the Visa. And just because in this case it is the number 1 tennis player in the world, they supposedly given a exemption for him to play the tournament while not allowing others because they don't have vaccine? I guess it's obvious that it is not fair for others to let Djokovic play.

I believe the detention was made to isolate him pending the outcome of the court decision for his deportation, his management team should have worked on him getting vaccinated before his trip to Australia for the game.
Covid-19 has placed strict travels restrictions and rules. Australia should have arranged for vaccines on arrival for international travelers.

I am not sure why he didn't cancel his trip in the first place... this drama lasts for months, and if Australians made it clear what they think about vaccinations he should stay at home and simply miss this tournament! Maybe he expected some "special treatment", but obviously he was wrong! You can't go against the system even if you are the number one tennis player!

There's miscommunication, if he is not allowed to enter Australia they should have informed his team right away before the departure, he is to defend his title, the sentiment of the Australian government is understandable because they have a huge COVID crisis and they cannot compromise someone unvaccinated even if he is the defending champion to enter, but its' not good the way they treat the best tennis player in the world but I'm surprised that with a worldwide call to get everybody vaccinated the number one tennis player is against it.

I've read this news and he's now appealing to the court for his deportation and he's not yet deported, it's until Monday. He didn't anticipate this to happen since he got that "exemption" but due to the strict laws and regulations of Australia, he has to honor that.

Although I'm for the freedom of choice for everybody, the government has to prioritize what's good for the majority.

This kind of wrong signal was already sent last year at the Euro "2020" finals (and more) and many didn't care and they've already forgotten.
The problem may be that Australia has a more strict overall approach on COVID (and imho well done) and Novak has the wrong impression that the whole world handles the things in the same way as Europe or the Balkans do.

I guess that he needed this cold shower, although, since another Australian entity may have told him that he can go there, he may have fuel for a lawsuit.

would you mind further elaborating? I don't really follow Australian politics but when the border officials said Novak Djokovic failed to provide appropriate evidence for entry, and for that reason, it is logical to detain him.

saw this statement in the article from Novak Djokovic's father and I must say this is a pretty bold statement.

I posted this in the main tennis thread, but am reposting here to clarify the incorrect reporting that has gone on.

Well in the first place an exemption should have never been given to the man after all of what Australian Citizens had to go through with the Covid issue. There were already a LOT of fire afaik from Novak getting a vaccine exemption beforehand, so really, something like this happening isn't that far out of the window. Still canceling it like that just simply implies that this is closer to a political move rather than anything else, even if we do add into consideration how his exemption was dubious in the first place (afaik, his exemption didn't come from the medical exemptions and was instead recommended).

I still think it was for the best that he was removed, but the way it was done was kind of iffy ig?

Australia is one of the countries that had massively locked down, it has been in the news for over months which the country had not allowed its people to return to the country without the vaccine passport. They've gone through a lot since the pandemic so they really need these rules. They were locking down for months I think Novak Djokovic knew that already so it must not be a surprise to him.

The governments are forcing everyone to get vaccinated, there was an NBA player that was not allowed to play too because of the restriction in NY.

He was approved to compete at the AO.  And then, the Government refused him entry. This was clearly to humiliate him, and now he is detained. This is not a good look for the country either, it’s politics. They could have allowed him entry, but they didn’t. This wasn’t the right move for the Government, it was politically motivated and anyone suggesting otherwise is foolish.

I don't think Novak Djokovic should have said things like this.
What Novak Djokovic said last year, made the public and other players wonder about Novak's freedom to play openly in Australia, because the other players follow all the vaccination rules, so I think it's very natural that Australian security forces hold Novak Djokovic's visa temporarily.
With reason:
Novak Djokovic: Australian Open vaccine exemption ignites backlash.

Actually, Djokovic must be aware that he is a world tennis player, he often visits various countries to compete, with the words he utters can create a negative response from various parties, but for now Djokovic has not been able to show anything about vaccinations that could make Australia give permission for Djokovic to continue playing or be sent home.

Conclusion: Since the issue of vaccination against Djokovic has become a problem in itself, to get the visa revoked, one thing that Djokovic needs to do to the Australian side is to show the vaccination certificate and revoke his statement last year in public, that he complied with all the rules that apply in certain countries the rules of covid and vaccination, he is safe and the visa can sail freely.

If Djokovic persists, does not comply with the covid and vaccination regulations in force in Australia, he will most likely not be able to play in this tennis tournament in Australia.

COVID-19 really caused some damage to many countries, and with the new variants, most countries are already taking measures, some have closed their borders and other countries like Australia have set new rules and regulation for visitors and even citizens to help curtail the further spread of covid-19 and its variants. For the case of vaccination, we knew for sure that it will get to this, and it's good to see that in Australia as regards this, no one is above the law, no matter your status. A tough decision it  is going to be for Djokovic, to just abandon the tournament, or subscribe to the terms and conditions of visiting the country.

However, i feel something can be done. There's still some time to the tournament, so the Australian government can isolate and carry out their out series of test on him before he be allowed to stay in the country for the duration of the tournament which is from 17th Jan 2022 – Sun, 30th Jan 2022.

But if the government does this for him, Other foreign international tennis players who have not gotten a jab may want to seek same preferencial treatment from the government, something i think they are trying to avoid.

Novak Djokovic, as of today, is not allowed to enter Australia.
The Australian Open tournament starts in 11 days.

He was exempt from having a COVID19 vaccine and provided that reason to the border agency in Australia, however they refused to let him in and his Visa got cancelled.

His only option now is to take the jab and issue a new Visa or forfeit participation in the Australian Open.

What do you guys think about this?

Source:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-59889522