The Prime Minister of Serbia denounced this Sunday (16) as “scandalous” the decision of the Australia to deport the tennis star Novak Djokovic for his decision not to be vaccinated against Covid-19, and the Serbian president said that the athlete will always be welcome in his homeland.
A unanimous three-judge decision rejecting Djokovic’s appeal against his visa cancellation was a final blow to the tennis player of chasing a record 21 Grand Slam wins at the Australian Open.
“I think the court’s decision is scandalous… I find it unbelievable that we have two completely contradictory court decisions in just a few days,” Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic told reporters in Belgrade, the Serbian capital.
“I’m disappointed… I think this demonstrates how the rule of law is working, or rather not working in some other countries. Anyway, I can’t wait to see Novak Djokovic in our own country, in Serbia.”
The 34-year-old tennis player flew from Australia to Dubai on Sunday night after saying in a brief statement that he was extremely disappointed in the court’s decision and that he would respect it.
Djokovic, the world’s greatest male tennis player, was first detained by Australian immigration authorities on 6 January, released by a court on 10 January and then detained again on Saturday (15) after the Australian Immigration Minister, Alex Hawke, used his powers to cancel the Serb’s visa.
The Federal Court’s three-judge panel upheld Hawke’s decision, which cited the reason that Djokovic might post a threat to public order because his presence would encourage anti-government sentiment.vaccination amid the worst outbreak of the coronavirus in Australia.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said he spoke with Djokovic after the court’s decision. “I told him that he is always welcome in Serbia,” he told reporters.
The Serbian Tennis Association (TSS) said the “farce is over” and that “politics won the sport” with the decision to deport Djokovic, who won the Australian Open nine times.
“Novak Djokovic… was denied the opportunity to win his 10th title [na Austrália]. Political pressure led to the revocation of his visa to satisfy the ‘public interest,'” the TSS said in a statement.
“This raises the question of whether athletes will henceforth be incarcerated as criminals and deported when it serves the political interests of powerful individuals,” he said.
Sports Minister Vanja Udovicic, a former professional water polo player, said Djokovic is the best tennis player of all time. “All the rest is nonsense and shame, nonsense and hypocrisy! Legend, pride of Serbia, we are with you,” he said.
In Belgrade, Djokovic’s hometown, many support him, although some think he should have been vaccinated.
“I think Australia should be ashamed and that the decision was not fair. I feel sorry for Novak as a tennis player and as a person,” said Danilo Mircic, a student.
“If I were him, I would get vaccinated and avoid problems in the future,” said Aleksandar Janjic, a computer programmer.
Reference: CNN Brasil
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