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Novak Djokovic’s vaccine exemption entry into Australia hit brick for visa issues
World No 1 Novak Djokovic posted on Instagram he had vaccine exemption to travel, however, following the post his entry into Australia on a vaccine exemption has been delayed due to issues with the visa he and his team submitted.
Having landed in Melbourne, the 20-time grand slam winner was reportedly attempting to enter the country on a visa that does not permit medical exemptions for being unvaccinated and when Border Force contacted government officials in Victoria to sponsor the visa, they refused to do so.
Upon the Serbian’s arrival at Melbourne he faced trouble at the border with Acting Sports Minister, Jaala Pulford, confirming that the state government was not supporting his visa application to compete in the Australian Open.
Jaala tweeted, “The Federal Government has asked if we will support Novak Djokovic’s visa application to enter Australia.
“We will not be providing Novak Djokovic with individual visa application support to participate in the 2022 Australian Open Grand Slam.
“We’ve always been clear on two points: visa approvals are a matter for the Federal Government, and medical exemptions are a matter for doctors”.
Meanwhile, the 34-year-old Djokovic revealed he had an “exemption permission” to travel and play at the Australian Open without a Covid-19 vaccination, he never revealed whether he is vaccinated against Covid-19 but has criticised mandates ruling that players must be double-jabbed.
However, Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison later confirmed that Djokovic would be on the next plane home if his evidence for a Covid-19 vaccination exemption to play at the Australian Open was not satisfactory.
The Minister had said, “There should be no special rules for Novak Djokovic at all, none whatsoever.
“He has to because if he’s not vaccinated, he must provide acceptable proof that he cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons and to be able to access the same travel arrangements, as fully vaccinated travellers”.
A check on the rules in Victoria, where the Australian Open will begin on January 17, confirmed that players must be double-
vaccinated against Covid-19 of which tournament director, Craig Tiley, said “We completely understand and empathise that some would have been upset by the fact that Novak Djokovic has come in because of his statements around vaccination in the past couple of years”.
A possible explanation (for his prevention) is that Djokovic has contracted coronavirus for a second time at some point in the past six months, having previously caught it during his much-criticised Adria Tour event in Belgrade in 2020. Speculation was also heightened after he pulled out of the Serbia team competing at the ATP Cup in Sydney without explanation.
Unfortunately, since the Australia’s Immigration Minister, The Hon Alex Hawke MP has concluded that Novak Djokovic holds anti-vaccination views and could be a threat to Australia’s public health, the player was finally deported from Australia and would not be participating in the tournament.