Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke revoked the visas of tennis player Novak Djokovic, which he obtained under an exemption from compulsory vaccination. The first player in the world rankings should leave the country instead of defending the title at the Australian Open grand slam.
“I have used my powers to revoke Mr Novak Djokovic’s visa issued for health reasons because it was in the public interest,” Hawke said in a statement. “The government (Prime Minister Scott) Morrison is firmly committed to protecting Australia’s borders, especially in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic,” he added.
Immigration Minister Alex Hawke justified the cancellation of the visa for Djokovic by protecting the public interest:
BREAKING:
Alex Hawke, the Australian Minister for Immigration, has cancelled Novak Djokovic’s Australian visa “on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so.”
This is effectively a re-deportation order for the unvaccinated nine-time #AusOpen champion. pic.twitter.com/2P611AbUiw
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 14, 2022
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The tennis player thus faces not only deportation, but also a ban on entering the country for up to three years. But Djokovic’s lawyers are expected to try again to reverse the decision in court. But there is not much time left for negotiations, the Australian Open will start on Monday.
Djokovic, a two-time grand slam winner who was opposed to the vaccination, was exempted from the compulsory vaccination for the Australian Open on the basis of coronavirus, but the authorities refused his visa upon arrival. The Serbian tennis player reversed the decision in Monday’s court due to a procedural mistake by immigration officials. Minister Hawke has been awaited since then.
Djokovic has been training in Melbourne Park since his release from the detention hotel on Monday and preparing for the tournament. His opponent was to be his compatriot Miomir Kecmanovič in the 1st round.
Djokovic’s coronavirus has been confusing. The German magazine Spiegel even stated that the test could be manipulated. In addition, the player may have problems in his homeland after admitting on Wednesday that after a positive test, ie aware of the infection, he took part in an interview for the newspaper L’Équipe. For breach of isolation in Serbia, there is a fine or imprisonment for up to three years.
In addition, Djokovic found himself in the sights of the Spanish authorities, who began to investigate his December trip to Marbella, which he concealed in documents submitted in Australia. The government in Madrid reportedly ordered the police to open an investigation.
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