Novak Djokovic Denied Entry To Australia General Sport

[Best]

World No.1 tennis star Novak Djokovic has been denied entry to Australia after his visa was revoked by the Australian government.

Djokovic was detained at Melbourne Airport for several hours following his arrival in Australia around 11.20pm on Wednesday after the Australian Border Force raised concerns over his entry visa.

"The advice that I have is that the visa of Novak Djokovic has been cancelled," Australian Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt told Channel 7's Sunrise.

I saw a clip on the news, the reporter went out and interviewed people in Melbourne and they were less than happy to put it mildly given that they have been under restrictions and have had to follow the rules and they aren't happy that a tennis player in their eyes seems to be getting "preferential treatment" and that's why the politicians seem to be having a conniption because the voters, sorry people are pissed off over this. That's the issue.

As if the plot wasn't thickened enough already

 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1478848059480158212

 

[Franco Pinion]

Australians/Politicians/Government depts are actually managing come across worse than Novak in all of this. That's quite an achievement.

 

[Dylan]

The rules should apply consistently to everyone.

That being said, I think the rule is at fault here. Provided an unvaccinated person tests daily there is no reason to suppose they are a greater risk to others, given Omicron is rampant in areas of Australia (NSW) at the moment. I would rather be around an unvaccinated tested person than a vaccinated untested one.

The risk Djokovic poses is to himself, not others, provided he tests every 24 (or even 12) hours, IMO.

 

[Best]

Australians/Politicians/Government depts are actually managing come across worse than Novak in all of this. That's quite an achievement.

What actually is the point of their policy?

Triple vaxxed people coming down with covid right, left and centre.

If he's tested negative then he's no more or less of a "threat" than anyone else.

It seems particularly perverse to refuse entry to one of the fittest, healthiest men on the planet on health grounds, but the same principle applies. Double and triple vaxxed people very obviously still catch and spread the virus at a significant rate, so this policy achieves absolutely nothing.

 

[Steve]

Doesn't really matter what Novak (or any of us) thinks about vaccines. These are the rules in Australia and if he wants to go and play there, he does what everyone else does. If he objects, then he stays at home.

 

[Tom]

Doesn't really matter what Novak (or any of us) thinks about vaccines. These are the rules in Australia and if he wants to go and play there, he does what everyone else does. If he objects, then he stays at home.

Spot on, really.

And I'll just add that Australia (and Victoria) does also give an option to the unvaccinated to do quarantine, so they're not excluded from the country. He chose the medical exemption route instead, but whatever he did with the requirements or paperwork, it seems he (or someone working for him) messed it up. It's much more an issue of legal requirements and bureaucracy than vaccination. And the same rules being applied to him as anyone else.

It is all a bit farcical now. Novak isn't the most popular player and this doesn't help him at all.

 

[Birdman]

Ridiculous situation. Both parties to blame.

Apparently, he had a vaccine exemption to enter Australia after a Covid infection on 16 December, his lawyers have said in court documents.

 

[Best]

Djokovic wins case in triumphant hearing

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-australia-59909477

Wouldn't be surprised if the Australian government may still try to pull another dirty trick or appeal. This has been an embarrassment from the start for them, they might dig in even further.

Novak Djokovic: Judge orders immediate release of tennis star

 

[Franco Pinion]

New twist each day.

I think he's lied about having the virus within the last month in order to attempt to get an exemption to enter Australia. There's simply no other way he could enter the country without vaccination or a different, valid medical exemption. The shite he's come up with means I now think has no chance of playing in the Australia Open and he'll be deported soon.

 

[Bandit]

Novak Djokovic's visa has been cancelled and he will likely no longer be allowed to play in the Australian Open.

He will be deported and a 3 year ban from Australia is "likely"

I would say his lawyers will challenge it presumably.

I would say this is the right decision and he has seriously damaged his legacy no matter what imo.