Of course this would happen to Novak Djokovic.
Djokovic was controversially granted a medical exemption some 36 hours ago from the Australian government — for whatever reason (some reports suggest a recent bout with COVID) — so he posted the usual social media picture with his baggage and promptly boarded a flight.
BUT…
Upon landing today in Melbourne, Australia won’t let him in!
Apparently (depending on what news feed you read), there was an issue with his VISA application and with his exemption. If you have a medical exemption, you need a different VISA, one Djokovic does not have.
Djokovic, his people, and likely tournament officials who desperately want the Serb there, are now trying to fix this. But the Victorian government right now isn’t budging.
“The Federal Government has asked if we will support Novak Djokovic’s visa application to enter Australia,” stated Jaala Pulford, the Victoria Sports PM, a few hours ago.
“We will not be providing Novak Djokovic with individual visa application support to participate in the 2022 Australian Open Grand Slam.
“We’ve always been clear on two points: visa approvals are a matter for the Federal Government, and medical exemptions are a matter for doctors.”
Australia’s PM Scott Morrison had this to say earlier: “If that evidence is insufficient, then he won’t be treated any different to anyone else and he’ll be on the next plane home.
“And so if medical exemptions had been provided by medical professionals and that’s been furnished to him as a proviso for him to get on that plane, well, that will have to stack up when he arrives in Australia.”
This is quite the ongoing saga. Djokovic is stuck at the airport and the government is taking a hard stance. Who wins this battle? And what happened with his application? Sounds like the Australian Open helped push it through, but somehow during the process a few boxes didn’t get checked — reportedly some 26 players applied for exemptions and a few got in, so it’s now a new for officials, but something went sideways.
Since Djokovic made 15 hour trip from Dubai, my gut tells me they will let him in. The tournament will find a way. Someone will cave in. But it’s incredible to me that this stuff happens to Djokovic.
And of course we are far from done here.
Djokovic landed about 30 mins ago. Federal officials realised hours before his visa application was erroneous. Border Force asked Vic authorities to support visa, which was rejected. BF has discretion to allow entry, but his pathway in is uncertain https://t.co/TM5BF0Gu80 @theage https://t.co/ytB34ldarX
— Paul Sakkal (@paulsakkal) January 5, 2022
Djokovic being quizzed about evidence to support vax exemption by border officials in airport room hours after landing. Fed govt source said COVID infection in past 6mos – suspected basis for Novak's exemption – may not suffice under border laws https://t.co/TM5BF0Gu80 @theage https://t.co/rfBv2UwkVQ
— Paul Sakkal (@paulsakkal) January 5, 2022
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