Novak Djokovic Is Refused Entry Into Australia Over Vaccine Exemption

[Violet_Crumble]

Source: New York Times

Novak Djokovic, the world’s No. 1-ranked men’s tennis player, traveled all day Wednesday from Dubai to Australia, a journey that was supposed to begin his defense of the Australian Open singles championship.

On Thursday, he was told he would need to leave the country, following a 10-hour standoff with government officials at a Melbourne airport, where he was held in a room overnight over the validity of his visa and questions about the evidence supporting a medical exemption from a coronavirus vaccine. The exemption was supposed to allow Djokovic, a 20-time Grand Slam tournament champion and one of the biggest stars in sports, to compete in the Australian Open even though he has not been vaccinated.

It was not immediately clear whether Djokovic would appeal the ruling in Australia’s courts. A spokesman for the tennis star did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The chain of events represented a startling turnabout for Djokovic, who in a little more than 24 hours went from receiving special, last-minute permission to enter Australia, to boarding an intercontinental flight, to essentially being told by the prime minister of Australia that he was not welcome in the country.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/05/sports/tennis/novak-djokovic-australia-visa.html

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Good riddance. Anyone who thinks they're above the law and deserve special treatment don't deserve to come here.

[Deep State Witch]

1. Crikey!

That bloke f*cked around and found out, didn't he, mate?

[certainot]

30. beauty!

[Comfortably_Numb]

2. These anti vaxxer morons are a big part of the reason we still have to deal with this virus.

Rich and famous only gets you so far when you’re a vaccine denying *sshole, clearly. Rules are rules. Bye Felicia!!

[Bev54]

3. It is their country, their choice - Go home and infect people there.

Do I believe for one minute he has a very real reason for a medical exemption? No, I don't and if he does, he likely should not be travelling anywhere.

[Shermann]

7. He's afflicted with Magatizing Kareniitis nt

[3catwoman3]

23. Reading too fast, I first saw this as...

...'Magnetizing" Karenitis.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

38. No, you catch the "magnetization" after you get your vaccine shot. nt

[3catwoman3]

24. Reading too fast, I first saw this as...

...'Magnetizing" Karenitis.

[Mickju]

4. Good!

[LoisB]

5. He can break all the records he can but he will NEVER be as loved or respected as Roger or Rafa.

[Escurumbele]

8. You are 100% correct on that.

I will admit that he is very good, you don't get to be #1 and break records by being bad, but...not only his style of play is extremely boring, but the guy is such a narcissist that he makes it very difficult for people to like him. I know a lot of people appreciate him, but I find his tennis very boring, I seldom watch any of his matches.

There is never "magic" on anything he does on the court. Not like Federer and Nadal where one goes "Wow" so many time during their matches because of the heroics they perform on court, plus they are both such nice people.

[Botany]

12. I think he is a truly great player, he has every shot, and has incredible court coverage but his ...

... actions as per the C-19 virus and the global pandemic to be appalling and with ego driven stupidity.
Just because you can throw a football, play basketball, or be one of the greatest tennis in history does
not give you the right to spread this deadly disease and or disinformation about it.

Australia is doing the right thing. Screw that jerk.

[spooky3]

19. +1

[Escurumbele]

6. I applaud that decision by the Australian government, shame on the Australian Open that had

accepted the "Medical Exception" (was it bone spur?) maybe not, he is an athlete.

This guy put up a tournament in his home country, partied with his wife and some other people during the tournament, he and his wife got COVID, and a lot of people did too. He is a conceded entitled narcissist, and the "Australian Open" organization should be shamed for allowing this guy to play when he refused to vaccinate after they had publicly said that no athlete would be allowed to play unless they were vaccinated.

Some players who are vaccinated and in Australia at this time criticized the Australian Open organization for allowing the medical exception, and they were right when they said "if it was me I know I would have not gotten away with something like that."

I hope the Australian Government stays firm and do not allow him to stay in the country.

[littlemissmartypants]

28. Conceited. Entitled psychopath. I wonder if he knows you can get Covid more than once.

Looks like he's not far from the FAFO club.

[Stallion]

9. Game Set Match!!!

[Escurumbele]

10. Well, it doesn't seem to be over, I hope the Australian government is not playing games.

Watch this video:

The guy may get away with it after all if the Australian Government is just playacting...That would be a shame...

[oioioi]

40. Ah yes, Scotty from Marketing

Having handled the pandemic DISASTROUSLY, facing an election within four months, he's chosen this as the way to turn the conversation to "border security", which is his "strong suit".

15 year old refugees locked up for EIGHT YEARS:

https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2021/10/11/growing-up-in-detention-casualties-of-australias-refugee-system

Family in detention for 3+ years, including CHILDREN BORN IN AUSTRALIA:

https://www.hometobilo.com/

Scott Morrison is a disgrace.

Link to tweet

[RayStar]

11. Serious

This virus is so serious and contagious. He should think of others.

[Rhiannon12866]

13. If he's the #1 ranked tennis player, how could he qualify for a medical exemption?

What are his serious health issues that would allow him to qualify??

[iluvtennis]

14. The scuttlebutt is that the medical exemption was "fabricated". The organization that puts on the

Australian Open Tennis Tournament wanted him in the tourney because he is a big draw and will maximize the tickets sells.

So happy that the Australian government stepped in and said NO WAY.

[Rhiannon12866]

16. Well, I figured that, but they must have had to give a reason

We have heard of those with such serious health issue that they're given exemptions, like those on other forms of medication, but this guy sure didn't sound like he could be one of them. Thanks for the explanation.

[spooky3]

21. It's been true for a long time that the top 4 or 5 players

Bring in the ticket sales and TV viewers, but I think there are a lot of emerging stars right now. I don’t think the AO will be hurt too badly by his absence. I’d feel more confident about this if Federer and Thiem were playing, and if Nadal were in peak form.

If Kyrgios were playing consistently he would be a big draw there.

[rpannier]

31. According to Guardian-Australia and Asia Pacific

what the exemption he's asking for is confidential, but likely is using his previous covid infection for the exemption
This is a guy who believes that good vibes can protect him from diseases

[Rhiannon12866]

32. It appears he believes he's an exception to any rules, but we've learned that Covid doesn't make

Exceptions.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

15. All of these "star" athletes who are refusing to be vaccinated

are as dumb as the average anti-vaxxer and deserve zero special treatment.

When it comes to professional sports, I cannot believe that all of the teams are not absolutely requiring the vaccine. And now, a booster.

Heck, we already know that those vaccinated and boosted can still get Covid, so why take any more chances than necessary?

[paleotn]

17. Tough. No vax, no play.

[nycbos]

18. The Austrailian government has some balls.

Good job.

[oioioi]

36. The Australian Government is desperate for a distraction

After creating an absolute disaster with COVID.

Link to tweet

[rockfordfile]

20. Good the pos should be vaccinated

[ironflange]

22. Just take the damn shot, you big baby!

[orleans]

25. did dubai take him back? or is he just flying around like a big ass until he gets a vaccine? nt

[tishaLA]

26. His behavior during the pandemic has been appalling

He makes Aaron Rodgers seem like a sweet guy in comparison.

He held an early pandemic tour that resulted in a slew of COVID cases and subsequently apologized--and it made me think significantly less of the players involve in it, especially Dominic Thiem, but also Tsitsipas, who's turned out to be a wretched person in any number of other ways. And if that weren't enough, Djokovic decided that the middle of a pandemic would be a great time to start a men-only tennis association, a move both Federer and Rafa rightly criticized.

Fortunately a good number of tennis players criticized Djokovic for his obstinance and his laissez faire attitude about others getting infected, but the top people at the ATP have been far too reticent about his behavior and the AO's decision to grant him a phony exemption is an exemplary instance of why some have become so cynical about the way COVID rules apply to some but not others.

[SunSeeker]

27. Eastern Europe is awash in Putin-sponsored anti-vaxx propaganda.

And the idiot Djokovic is just another sheep lapping it up. They should not accommodate his stupidity.

[xocetaceans]

29. Novaxx Djokovic? Is that his new handle? n/t

[muriel_volestrangler]

33. Novak Djokovic to remain in detention during court challenge to Australian visa cancellation

Novak Djokovic is awaiting his Australian Open fate in a Melbourne immigration hotel as the world No 1 mounts a legal challenge against Australia’s decision to cancel his visa.

Djokovic’s lawyers succeeded in a bid to stop him from being deported on Thursday with a full hearing in the federal circuit court now scheduled for Monday.
...
It is understood the reigning Australian Open champion was relying on a previous Covid infection as the basis for his exemption to compete – but that is not recognised by the federal government.

After unsuccessfully pleading his case at the airport, Djokovic was transported from the airport to an immigration hotel in the inner Melbourne suburb of Carlton.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/jan/06/novak-djokovic-to-challenge-australian-visa-cancellation-in-federal-court

[Eugene]

34. Novak Djokovic to remain in detention during court challenge to Australian visa cancellation

Source: The Guardian and agencies

Novak Djokovic to remain in detention during court challenge to Australian visa cancellation

Australian Open champion is challenging his deportation after the Australian prime minister said officials were ‘following the rules’

Emma Kemp and agencies
Thu 6 Jan 2022 08.50 GMT

Novak Djokovic is awaiting his Australian Open fate in a Melbourne immigration hotel as the world No 1 mounts a legal challenge against Australia’s decision to cancel his visa.

Djokovic’s lawyers succeeded in a bid to stop him from being deported on Thursday with a full hearing in the federal circuit court now scheduled for Monday.

The tennis champion spent eight hours detained at Melbourne airport overnight before Australian Border Force officials announced he had been denied entry into the country on Thursday morning. They cited a failure to meet Australia’s Covid vaccination exemption requirements.

It is understood the reigning Australian Open champion was relying on a previous Covid infection as the basis for his exemption to compete – but that is not recognised by the federal government.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/jan/06/novak-djokovic-to-challenge-australian-visa-cancellation-in-federal-court

[Aussie105]

35. He won't answer questions about his vaccination status with a straight answer.

I guess that means 'no'.

His reason for getting a medical exemption didn't pass close scrutiny.

As a double vaccinated and boosted Australian - boosted yesterday - I fully approve of his short stay in Australia.

[Drum]

37. Hey man...just get the shot in your OTHER arm

[Jetheels]

39. His own name practically spells out Covid vacc.

[Raftergirl]

41. Just the thought of him stuck in a quarantine hotel...

makes me giggle.

Remember last year and his demands? One of them was to do quarantine in a private home with tennis courts. Plus, he and the other highest ranked players got to do their quarantine in Adelaide, at a resort hotel with balconies, and a private gym, while the others were locked in rooms in Melbourne with no windows.

All this is his own fault because he refuses to get vaxxed.

His equally nut job of a father thinks Novaxx is now the new leader of the free world!

“Novak Djokovic's father, Srdjan Djokovic (61), also spoke out, telling Serbian media pathetically: "My son is in Australian captivity tonight, but he has never been freer. From that moment on, Novak has become the symbol and leader of the free world, the world of poor and disadvantaged nations and peoples."

And also the new Jesus.

Link to tweet

?s=20

[Luciferous]

42. If you can't follow their rules, tough shit.

[Raftergirl]

43. There is now another player in quarantine hotel.

A woman doubles specialist who already played one match on Wednesday and lost. She is leaving Aus. Also, an official is in there, also. And leaving, too.

[Paladin]

44. Tough shit, pretty-boy jock. (nt)