Tennis: visa canceled for Djokovic, Serbia accuses Australia of "bad treatment"
Serbian Novak Djokovic, in the men's singles semi-final between Croatia and Serbia in the Davis Cup, in Madrid on December 3, 2021. AFP - OSCAR DEL POZO
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
Australia on Thursday January 6 canceled the visa of world tennis number one Novak Djokovic as he had just stepped off the plane at Melbourne airport, saying he lacked the necessary documents for entry in the country.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has accused Australia of "
mistreating
" the tennis champion.
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The Australian Prime Minister had threatened to return the Serbian player "
by the first plane
" if his exemption from the vaccine imposed on the participants in the tournament was not justified.
The best tennis player in the world had obtained a medical exemption to be able to travel to Melbourne for the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, which will be played between January 17 and 30.
But patatras!
The Serbian, nine-time winner of the competition, “
did not provide the appropriate information to enter Australia and his visa was therefore canceled.
Foreign nationals who do not have a valid visa or whose visa has been canceled will be detained and deported from Australia
, ”customs said as he stepped off the plane.
According to the Australian press, he would not have filled out the correct form to apply for a visa, and the one he requested would not authorize a medical exemption.
“
Mr. Djokovic's visa has been canceled.
Rules are rules, especially when it comes to our borders.
No one is above these rules.
Our strict border policies have been essential for Australia to have one of the lowest COVID death rates in the world, we continue to be vigilant
, ”the Australian Prime Minister wrote on Twitter.
Mr Djokovic's visa has been canceled.
Rules are rules, especially when it comes to our borders.
No one is above these rules.
Our strong border policies have been critical to Australia having one of the lowest death rates in the world from COVID, we are continuing to be vigilant.
- Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) January 5, 2022
Diplomatic incident
The affair definitely takes a political turn, because in Belgrade, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic accused Australia of "
bad treatment
" towards his player.
Claiming to have spoken to him, he told him that "
all of Serbia
" was with him and that the authorities were taking "
all measures
" to put an end to what was being inflicted on him "
as quickly as possible
".
“
In accordance with all the norms of international public law, Serbia will fight for Novak Djokovic, justice and truth
,” he said.
See this post on Instagram
A post shared by Aleksandar Vučić (@buducnostsrbijeav)
Novak Djokovic's father, Srdjan, was quick to react too.
“
Expulsion!
He exclaimed in an interview.
"
Our pride, our Novak will come home ... We must give him the welcome he deserves!"
He posted.
►Read again: The number one in world tennis, Novak Djokovic, “Novax”, on his way to Melbourne
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