[imagesource: Seth Wenig / AP]
The Novak Djokovic saga rumbles on.
Fresh off winning his appeal against his deportation, the Serbian tennis star returned to training and stated that he was looking forward to competing in the Australian Open.
If he wins, Djokovic would pull one clear of Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal and become the first man ever to win 21 singles Grand Slams.
However, his participation looks less likely after it emerged that his agent had incorrectly filled out an immigration form that claimed he had not left Spain for 14 days prior to travelling to Australia.
On its website, the Australian Home Affairs Department warns that giving false or misleading information to the government is “a serious offence” that carries a possible jail term.
Djokovic also came under fire for images that showed him appearing at public events without a mask and around children and strangers after receiving a positive COVID-19 test.
You can bet that will only add fuel to the fire of those who consider him a fool.
Both of those subjects were addressed in his Instagram post. Toggle right to see the full statement:
View this post on Instagram
According to ABC News, Djokovic and his team have taken steps to rectify the error:
[Djokovic said] he’d submitted paperwork to the Australian government to clear up the error, a fact reiterated in a statement from Immigration Minister Alex Hawke.
In a statement given Wednesday local time, Hawke told ABC News: “Mr. Djokovic’s lawyers have recently provided lengthy further submissions and supporting documentation said to be relevant to the possible cancellation of Mr Djokovic’s visa. Naturally, this will affect the timeframe for a decision.”
With regards to the interview he did with French newspaper L’Equipe after knowing he had tested positive for COVID-19, even the Serbian prime minister is unimpressed.
Having spent the past week vociferously defending Djokovic, Ana Brnabic has changed her tune. Below via NewsAU:
[Brnabic] said that if Djokovic had attended events despite a positive test, “it would be a clear breach of rules, because if you are positive, you would have to be isolation”.
Article 248 of the Criminal Code under Serbian Law states: “Whoever during an epidemic of a dangerous contagious disease fails to act pursuant to regulations, decisions or orders setting forth measures for its suppression or prevention, shall be punished by a fine or imprisonment of up to three years.”
Imprisonment is never going to happen but it’s certainly put a spanner in the works of those who have stuck up for Djokovic.
The timeline is far from ideal:
After learning that he tested positive for the coronavirus, Novak Djokovic still continued making public appearances without a mask. Here’s a comprehensive timeline of his whereabouts since the mid-December test. https://t.co/4emon78D8D pic.twitter.com/gHZshyNTS9
— The New York Times (@nytimes) January 11, 2022
Condemnation has been swift:
That statement is so bad. Djokovic is basically admitting that he doesn’t care about any covid protocols in the third year of a pandemic that has killed millions.
— Nikhila (@kokudum) January 12, 2022
The fact remains that according to Djokovic’s own account, he knew he might have Covid otherwise he would not have gotten a PCR test — yet he hung out with children anyway. Then the next day he knowingly broke quarantine and did an interview while supposedly being positive.
— Crystal Marie Fleming (@alwaystheself) January 12, 2022
i can’t believe novak djokovic’s management let him run this. there is no sincere apology — only one on behalf of his agent. pic.twitter.com/hpyhfI67kx
— Andrew Baback Boozary MD (@drandrewb) January 12, 2022
Even taking all of the above into consideration, the Australian government’s heavy-handed approach in dealing with the saga seems unnecessary.
Whether or not Djokovic plays in the Australian Open or not, the tournament has been tainted by all of this.
