Novak Djokovic's Vaccine Stance & Visa Troubles

[tented]

Do anyone thinks that he is going to fly back to Serbia and get the correct paperwork……? Heck no.. he ain’t coming back to endure that debacle again IMO

I don’t think he would fly to Serbia, unless he has to as part of the deportation process. More likely, he’ll fly to New Zealand, get the paperwork in order, then fly back to Australia.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I don’t think he would fly to Serbia, unless he has to as part of the deportation process. More likely, he’ll fly to New Zealand, get the paperwork in order, then fly back to Australia.

That is a possibility.....hang on I dont think he will be allowed into New Zealand because he is unvacciinated,also they have closed the borders to Australia because of the Omicron out break.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Novak Djokovic's dad issues an urgent message to Australian government as he's held under police guard at Melbourne airport

My peeps that work for the police guard at the Melbourne Airport said that Daddy Djokovic accused them of being Fedal's fans...jajaja

 

[Fiero425]

Well I am afraid to say it already has people tainting the AO and the country.

As Novak hoped, he thought his celebrity would override rules, laws, & Australia's 6 lockdowns! IDK why they don't just treat him as "a kid in a bubble?"

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

As Novak hoped, he thought his celebrity would override rules, laws, & Australia's 6 lockdowns! IDK why they don't just treat him as "a kid in a bubble?"

That is not going to happen.

 

[Fiero425]

My peeps that work for the police guard at the Melbourne Airport said that Daddy Djokovic accused them of being Fedal's fans...jajaja

Is he lying or mistaken?

 

[Fiero425]

That is not going to happen.

It'll mark the tournament for all time; not allowing the #1 player and defending champion to play this Major! Unfortunate, but it is what it is!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

It'll mark the tournament for all time; not allowing the #1 player and defending champion to play this Major! Unfortunate, but it is what it is!

Well if he had the correct visa this would not be happening.

 

[Moxie]

He took a shot! Novak was testing the rules! In America it's done all the time! If you succeed it's worth it; if not you're screwed! Happens!

That's was kind of the wrong choice of words, huh? Given that he didn't take a shot? I'm not sure what you means "happens all the time in America," but messing with immigration is not one of those things. Your visa is not in order, you don't get in.

 

[Moxie]

Well if he had the correct visa this would not be happening.

I don't see what else they could do. I mean, they might be able to let him stay in that quarantine/transit hotel, but he is for all intents and purposes "not in Australia." And it would not be happening IF he satisfied the border police with his reasons for medical exemption, but we don't know that either, correct? If they send him back to Serbia to get his visa, or wherever, this may be in part his fault, because now they really can't be seen as giving him preferential treatment, and the PM has already said that if his papers aren't in order, he's on the next plane, and no preferential treatment, etc. That tweet he made from the airport (in Marbella?) was ill-advised and incautious of the feelings of Australians, in retrospect, and he landed to find himself embroiled in a political mess that goes way beyond tennis now. Even the PM of Serbia has weighed in, and is using some sharp language.

 

[Moxie]

That is a possibility.....hang on I dont think he will be allowed into New Zealand because he is unvacciinated,also they have closed the borders to Australia because of the Omicron out break.

I was thinking same as @tented...that he could fly to a nearby country with an embassy where he can get his visa, but then I thought the same as you: it would have to be a country that would take him, unvaccinated, and without a visa into THAT country. Oh, man, he's about to become the Ancient Mariner.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I don't see what else they could do. I mean, they might be able to let him stay in that quarantine/transit hotel, but he is for all intents and purposes "not in Australia." And it would not be happening IF he satisfied the border police with his reasons for medical exemption, but we don't know that either, correct? If they send him back to Serbia to get his visa, or wherever, this may be in part his fault, because now they really can't be seen as giving him preferential treatment, and the PM has already said that if his papers aren't in order, he's on the next plane, and no preferential treatment, etc. That tweet he made from the airport (in Marbella?) was ill-advised and incautious of the feelings of Australians, in retrospect, and he landed to find himself embroiled in a political mess that goes way beyond tennis now. Even the PM of Serbia has weighed in, and is using some sharp language.

Visa rules have to be respected in all countries....this could have been avoided....this is a hard lesson to be learnt,especially now in the pandemic to have all the correct paperwork,double check,to make sure all your paperwork is in correct order.
I read what the Serbian PM said? really......
BTW Novak had his mobile phone with him at all times when he was being interviewed by Border Force Officials,contrary to what his father said on Twitter earlier today.

 

[tented]

It'll mark the tournament for all time; not allowing the #1 player and defending champion to play this Major! Unfortunate, but it is what it is!

But this is not about the Australian Open or Tennis Australia — this is about the federal government in Australia. This should not mark the AO under any circumstances. They’re a neutral party in this.

 

[Moxie]

But this is not about the Australian Open or Tennis Australia — this is about the federal government in Australia. This should not mark the AO under any circumstances. They’re a neutral party in this.

Exactly, and they laid out their rules some time back. These are not the rules of the AO or TA, but a government mandate. Novak has had plenty of time to weigh his vaccine aversion against his ambition. Fiero is right that he did roll the dice and gamble that he'd be able to do it his way. And he may yet. But I don't want to hear a lot of "victimhood" from him, whichever where it turns out. He put down his marker on the issue of vaccines and playing under mandates in April 2020, and he's too high-profile not to need to own that.

 

[tented]

BBC World News just said the PM of Australia is going to make a statement soon.

 

[the AntiPusher]

BBC World News just said the PM of Australia is going to make a statement soon.

BTW.. he's a Fedal fan too.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

BTW.. he's a Fedal fan too.

LOL! sorry to disappoint you Scot is a huge football fan

 

[the AntiPusher]

LOL! sorry to disappoint you Scot is a huge football fan

That means he is a Madrid fan which means he may be more Rafa than Roger . ;-)

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Our Hom

That means he is a Madrid fan which means he may be more Rafa than Roger . ;-)

I should have clarified.....he is a huge rugby league fan here in Australia not soccer.

 

[Moxie]

BBC World News just said the PM of Australia is going to make a statement soon.

So curious to hear how this will go. Even those of us who thought Novak has been a bit of a drama queen over the Vax issue, never thought there'd be a chapter including a statement from the PM. This is bordering on the surreal.