# Outcry as Australia bars Djokovic over vaccination status
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-01-06
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: Novak Djokovic denied entry into Australia amid COVID-19
Meta Description: World number one tennis player Novak Djokovic was denied entry into Australia after a medical exemption from COVID-19 vaccination rules, sparking an
URL: https://financedigest.com/outcry-as-australia-bars-djokovic-over-vaccination-statushtml

![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-01-06t040516z1lynxmpei0503mrtroptp4tennis-australia-djokovic-1736836507277-compressed.jpg)

By Courtney Walsh and John Mair

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – World number one tennis player Novak Djokovic was denied entry into Australia on Thursday amid a storm of protest about a decision to grant him a medical exemption from COVID-19 vaccination requirements to play in the Australian Open.

The tennis star was transported to a quarantine hotel in Melbourne after being held at the city’s airport overnight and was told he would be removed from the country later on Thursday, a source close to the tournament told Reuters.

[Australia’s Border Force confirmed Djokovic’s visa](https://www.financedigest.com/brazil-to-resume-visa-requirements-for-us-japan-australia-canada-sources.html "Brazil to resume visa requirements for US, Japan, Australia, Canada -sources") had been revoked, while the source said the player’s lawyers planned to file an injunction to prevent his removal.

Djokovic’s injunction request against the visa cancellation was listed for hearing at 4 pm (0500 GMT) in the [Federal Circuit](https://www.financedigest.com/stroock-prevails-at-federal-circuit-on-behalf-of-digital-product-maker-movea-inc.html "Stroock Prevails at Federal Circuit on Behalf of Digital Product Maker Movea Inc.") and Family Court, according to court documents.

The saga, fuelled by domestic political point-scoring about the country’s handling of a [record surge](https://www.financedigest.com/londons-ftse-100-hits-fresh-record-high-as-telecoms-surge.html "London’s FTSE 100 hits fresh record high as telecoms surge") in new COVID-19 infections, has created an international incident with the Serbian president claiming harassment of its star player.

There are no special cases, rules are rules,” Australian [Prime Minister](https://www.financedigest.com/factbox-who-will-replace-uk-prime-minister-boris-johnson.html "Factbox-Who will replace UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson?") Scott Morrison said at a televised media briefing.

We will [continue to make the right decisions when it comes to securing](https://www.financedigest.com/ils-investment-returns-continue-to-outperform-according-to-aon-insurance-linked-securities-report.html "ILS investment returns continue to outperform, according to Aon insurance-linked securities report") Australian borders in relation to this pandemic,” Morrison said.

Djokovic, who has consistently refused to disclose his vaccination status while publicly criticising [mandatory](https://www.financedigest.com/factbox-countries-making-covid-19-vaccines-mandatory.html "Factbox: Countries making COVID-19 vaccines mandatory") vaccines, kicked off the furor when he said on Instagram that he had received a medical exemption to pursue a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam win at the Open starting Jan. 17.

The announcement prompted outcry in Australia, particularly in tournament host city of Melbourne, which has endured the [world’s longest cumulative lockdown](https://www.financedigest.com/looking-beyond-lockdown-the-new-opportunities-for-smes-in-a-post-pandemic-world.html "Looking beyond lockdown: the new opportunities for SME’s in a post-pandemic world") to ward off the coronavirus.

[Australia’s adult vaccination rate](https://www.financedigest.com/virgin-australia-says-high-staff-illness-rates-hampering-capacity-lifting-fares.html "Virgin Australia says high staff illness rates hampering capacity, lifting fares") of about 91% is high by international standards and there is little public sympathy for those who refuse to be inoculated, as the Omicron variant sends case numbers to record levels.

However, the move by the Australian government to block his entry caused ructions between Canberra and Belgrade.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said he had spoken with Djokovic to reassure the player “that the whole of Serbia is with him and that our bodies are doing everything to [see that the harassment of the world’s best tennis player is brought to an end](https://www.financedigest.com/capgemini-comfortable-with-top-end-2022-targets-but-sees-demand-slowing.html "Capgemini ‘comfortable’ with top end 2022 targets but sees demand slowing") immediately.

“In line with all norms of international law, Serbia will fight for Novak, truth and justice,” Vucic said on Twitter.

Morrison said he was aware that [“representations have been made” by the Serbian embassy in Canberra and denied the claims of harassment](https://www.financedigest.com/china-lodges-representations-over-alleged-harassment-at-manchester-consulate.html "China lodges representations over alleged harassment at Manchester consulate").

Australia has sovereign [borders and clear rules](https://www.financedigest.com/slipping-over-mexico-border-migrants-get-the-jump-on-u-s-court-ruling.html "Slipping over Mexico border, migrants get the jump on U.S. court ruling") that are non-discriminatory,” Morrison said.

Serbian media reported that Vucic had summoned the [Australian ambassador in Belgrade and demanded](https://www.financedigest.com/apples-australian-workers-go-on-christmas-strike-demanding-better-wages-work-terms.html "Apple’s Australian workers go on Christmas strike demanding better wages, work terms") Djokovic be released and allowed to play.

POLICE GUARD

In a dramatic series of events, Djokovic’s father told [media in Serbia that his son was ushered into an isolation room under police](https://www.financedigest.com/saudi-snitching-app-turns-citizens-into-social-media-police.html "Saudi snitching app turns citizens into social media police") guard when he touched down at Melbourne’s Tullamarine airport at about 11:30 p.m. (1230 GMT) on Wednesday after a 14-hour flight from Dubai.

His fate was the [focus of a political](https://www.financedigest.com/european-shares-rebound-with-focus-on-italian-politics-earnings.html "European shares rebound with focus on Italian politics, earnings") fight in Australia, characterised by fingerpointing between Morrison’s conservative administration and the left-leaning Victorian government led by Premier Dan Andrews.

Under Australia’s federal system, states and territories can [issue exemptions from vaccination](https://www.financedigest.com/gsk-expects-us-launch-of-rsv-vaccine-with-no-supply-issues.html "GSK expects US launch of RSV vaccine with no supply issues") requirements to enter their jurisdictions. However, the federal government [controls international](https://www.financedigest.com/international-space-station-thrown-out-of-control-by-misfire-of-russian-module-nasa.html "International Space Station thrown out of control by misfire of Russian module -NASA") borders and can challenge any exemptions granted by states.

Djokovic travelled to Australia after [receiving an exemption from the Victorian government](https://www.financedigest.com/adnami-to-receive-six-figure-sum-of-investment-from-danish-government-in-recognition-of-its-pioneering-technology-and-strategy.html "Adnami to receive six-figure sum of investment from Danish government in recognition of its pioneering technology and strategy"), granted after a process that included a panel of health officials. That exemption – the reasons for which are not known – supported his federal government-issued visa to [play at the Australian Open](https://www.financedigest.com/open-banking-levels-the-playing-field-for-smes-and-brings-hope-of-a-better-future-for-financial-services.html "Open Banking Levels the Playing Field for SMEs and Brings Hope of a Better Future for financial services").

On arrival, however, Federal [Border Force officials at the airport](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-airports-face-christmas-disruption-as-border-staff-to-strike.html "UK airports face Christmas disruption as border staff to strike") said Djokovic was unable to justify the grounds for his exemption.

The Australian task force that [sets the exemption parameters lists](https://www.financedigest.com/oneweb-eutelsat-set-for-secondary-london-listing-the-times.html "OneWeb-Eutelsat set for secondary London listing – The Times") the risk of serious cardiac illness from inoculation and a COVID-19 infection within the past six months as qualifiers. However, Morrison said on Thursday that Tennis Australia had been advised several [months ago that a recent infection](https://www.financedigest.com/english-study-finds-long-covid-affects-up-to-1-in-7-children-months-after-infection.html "English study finds long COVID affects up to 1 in 7 children months after infection") did not meet the criteria for exemption.

The squabbling overshadowed the fact that [Australia’s daily COVID-19](https://www.financedigest.com/freedom-day-sydney-reopens-as-australia-looks-to-live-with-covid-19.html "‘Freedom Day’: Sydney reopens as Australia looks to live with COVID-19") infections hit a record high for the fourth consecutive day, with new cases exceeding 72,000, overwhelming hospitals and causing labour shortages.

Tennis Australia and government officials said Djokovic received no preferential treatment, adding he was among “a handful” of the 26 people who applied who were [approved in an anonymous and independent process](https://www.financedigest.com/emvco-streamlines-approval-process-for-mobile-payment-devices.html "EMVCo Streamlines Approval Process for Mobile Payment Devices").

With just 11 days to go until the Open starts, a [legal challenge](https://www.financedigest.com/five-technology-challenges-that-are-holding-back-legal-innovation.html "Five technology challenges that are holding back legal innovation") could go all the way to the High Court.

ANGRY AUSSIES

The Serbian has won nine [titles at Melbourne Park including](https://www.financedigest.com/title-interventional-pulmonology-market-shows-huge-demand-and-future-scope-including-top-players-2031.html "Interventional Pulmonology Market Shows Huge Demand and Future Scope Including Top Players 2031") the last three, but his anti-vaccination stance means he faces a tough crowd to take his tenth in Victoria.

Australian tennis great Rod Laver, after whom the main showcourt is named, [warned that Djokovic would likely face](https://www.financedigest.com/markets-could-face-sharp-correction-bank-of-england-warns.html "Markets could face ‘sharp correction’, Bank of England warns") hostility.

“I think it might get ugly,” Laver told News Corp. I’d think the Victorian [people would be thinking ‘Yes I’d love to see him play](https://www.financedigest.com/55-of-people-who-regularly-play-sport-dont-think-being-verbally-abusive-to-another-player-makes-them-a-bad-sport.html "55% OF PEOPLE WHO REGULARLY PLAY SPORT DON’T THINK BEING VERBALLY ABUSIVE TO ANOTHER PLAYER MAKES THEM A BAD SPORT") and compete, but at the same time there’s a right way and a wrong way.

Paul McNamee, former Australian Open tournament director and tennis professional, said Djokovic had followed the required steps to obtain a visa and should be allowed to play.

“So he deserves his day on court, not in court, in my opinion,” McNamee told ABC TV.

(Writing by Jane Wardell; Editing by Stephen Coates)


---
This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more.
---