Novak Djokovic again in custody

Novak Djokovic is again in custody. The Serbian champion returned to the Park Hotel detention facility in Melbourne, pending a ruling by the Australian Federal Court. To report it is the Cnn, which tells of a white van that took the tennis player back to the hotel used as a detention facility for migrants.

The latest update in the case that is following around the world came yesterday when the Australian immigration ministry canceled Djokovic’s visa for the second time, stopped in Melbourne where he went to participate in the Australian Open. At the Park Hotel in Melbourne, where he does not have the opportunity to train, he will wait for the decision of the judge to which his lawyers have appealed. The judge must decide on the validity of the documentation presented which includes the medical exemption obtained by Djokovic in order to participate in the tournament. The decision will arrive Sunday morning (Saturday night in Italy) from the Australian Federal Court

“The Australian Open is much more important than any player”, These are the words of the Spanish champion Rafael Nadal, clearly a bit tired of the situation: «If he plays in the end, ok. If he doesn’t play, the Australian Open will be a great tournament, with or without him ».

The tennis player was on the flight from Dubai to Melbourne when the Tullamarine customs opened the file with the documentation sent from Belgrade. The documentation was not deemed sufficient and Djokovic ended up in solitary confinement as in an episode of Airport Security. Nole remained at the airport for hours with no way of communicating with the outside world. Then came the news of the expulsion and then that of the passage to a hotel, those for those who enter the country illegally, pending the decision on the appeal of the federal court of Judge Anthony Kelly.

His lawyers have until 2pm on Saturday to bring evidence for their client. The officials of the Ministry of the Interior until 20 on Sunday. The tennis player’s lawyers have also asked to be able to transfer him to a hotel where he can train. Under the one he is in are demonstrators with Serbian flags in his favor.

The state of Victoria, whose capital is Melbourne, has given a green light that is not shared by the Australian federal government responsible for visas. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the rules apply to everyone. If Djokovic can participate in the tournament, given themedical exemption, this does not apply to entry into the country. There is privacy on medical documents, but the only possible exception that seems valid for the tennis player’s participation in the tournament is having had Covid in the last six months, which is not enough for entry into the country. On the other hand, the Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic talks about mistreatment of Djokovic and his entire country. The father of the champion says instead that the son is fighting a battle for the whole world.

The medical exemption came through two independent medical boards, it is not a visa and the one presented by Djokovic is not considered valid.It is valid for entering the country that has had one of the longest lockdowns in the world, over 260 days and very strict rules, always, on entry. It doesn’t seem to apply to either public opinion which immediately arose when the nine-time winner here posted a picture of his departure to the other end of the world.

In the post Djokovic was talking about exemption permission. His departure had been in doubt for weeks as Australia asks for the vaccine from those who enter and he has never declared his vaccination status. To most, it seemed an exception except for the first player in the world, even if there are other tennis players who were admitted with exemptions from vaccination (less than 5 out of the 26 requests presented).