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Diahuebs 13 Januari 2022

Djokovic acknowledges error on Australian travel declaration

COVID-19 to isolate for at only grounds for an exemp-
least 14 days. But Djokovic tion in cases in which the
was seen a little over a week coronavirus caused severe ill-
after his positive test on the ness — though it’s not clear
streets of Belgrade, though why he was issued a visa if
he said he had tested negative that’s the case.
in between.
The initial decision to let him
Meanwhile, Djokovic ad- compete sparked complaints
dressed the Australian travel that Djokovic was being giv-
declaration by saying it was en special treatment — and
submitted by his support the subsequent cancellation
team and “my agent sincerely of his visa raised allegations
apologizes for the adminis- that he was being targeted
trative mistake in ticking the once the issue became po-
incorrect box.” litical. The saga is playing
out against the backdrop of
“This was a human error and growing concern in Australia
certainly not deliberate,” he over surging COVID-19 cas-
wrote. “My team has provid- es — and the government’s
ed additional information to strategy to contain them.
the Australian Government
to clarify this matter.” Australia-based lawyer Greg
Barns, who is experienced in
The decision could take a visa cases, told The Associ-
(AP) — Novak Djokovic leased from four nights in described recent commen- while — but there is time ated Press that the immigra-
acknowledged Wednesday immigration detention. tary as “hurtful” and said he pressure since the draw to tion minister has the “per-
that his Australian travel wanted to address it in the in- determine brackets for the sonal power” to cancel the
declaration form con- The nine-time and defend- terest of “alleviating broader Australian Open is set to take visa without having to give
tained incorrect informa- ing Australian Open cham- concern in the community place Thursday. written notice or a reasonable
tion, and he also confessed pion remains in limbo before about my presence in Austra- time for Djokovic to respond.
to an “error of judgment” the year’s first tennis major lia.” Immigration Minister Alex
in taking part in an inter- starts Monday. The stakes are Hawke’s office issued a state- If Djokovic’s visa is canceled,
view and photo shoot in particularly high since he is The 34-year-old Serb said ment saying Djokovic’s legal his lawyers could go back to
Serbia last month after seeking a men’s record 21st he’d taken rapid tests that team had filed further docu- court to apply for an injunc-
testing positive for CO- Grand Slam singles title. were negative and he was ments and added: “Naturally, tion that would prevent him
VID-19. asymptomatic before he re- this will affect the timeframe from being forced to leave
His visa was canceled on ar- ceived his positive result for a decision.” the country.
In a statement posted to his rival last week when his vac- from a PCR test he under-
social media accounts, the cination exemption was ques- took out of an “abundance At issue is whether he has a If the government decides
tennis star blamed “human tioned, but he won a legal of caution” after attending a valid exemption to strict rules instead to first give no-
error” by his support team battle on procedural grounds basketball game in Belgrade requiring vaccination to enter tice, Barns said it could give
for failing to declare that he that allowed him to stay in on Dec. 14. Australia since he recently re- Djokovic up to nine days to
had traveled in the two-week the country. He still faces the covered from COVID-19. respond.
period before entering Aus- prospect of deportation — a He received the result late
tralia. decision that is entirely at the Dec. 17, he said, and scrapped His exemption to compete “That might be a way of giv-
discretion of Australia’s im- all his commitments except a was approved by the Victoria ing Djokovic a chance in the
Giving false information on migration minister if deemed long-standing interview with state government and Ten- tournament and then kicking
the form could be grounds to be in the public interest for L’Equipe newspaper the fol- nis Australia, the tournament him out at the end of that,”
for deportation, the latest health and safety reasons. lowing day. organizer. That apparently al- Barns said.
twist in a saga over whether lowed him to receive a visa to
the athlete should be allowed Deportation could result “I felt obliged to go ahead ... travel. Sydney-based immigration
stay in Australia despite not in sanctions ranging up to a but did ensure I socially dis- lawyer Simon Jeans said
being vaccinated. The ini- three-year ban from entering tanced and wore a mask ex- But the Australian Border there’s “a lot of fudges” in
tial news that Djokovic was Australia, a daunting prospect cept when my photograph Force rejected the exemption the law and the immigration
granted an exemption to for a player who has won al- was being taken,” Djokovic and canceled his visa upon department would be tak-
strict vaccination rules to en- most half of his 20 Grand said. arrival before a federal judge ing its time to make sure any
ter the country provoked an Slam singles titles here. overturned that decision. visa cancellation was “appeal-
outcry and the ensuing dis- The L’Equipe reporter who Lawyers for the government proof.”
pute has since overshadowed Court documents detail- interviewed the athlete wrote have said an infection was
the lead-up to the Australian ing Djokovic’s positive test in the newspaper that he and
Open. sparked speculation over the a photographer were also
star player’s attendance at masked during the session
Djokovic acknowledged the events in his native Serbia last — and kept their distance
lapses when he sought to month. Further questions except for a brief moment as
clarify what he called “con- also were raised about errors Djokovic said goodbye. The
tinuing misinformation” on his immigration form that reporter said he tested nega-
about his movements after he could potentially result in the tive for COVID-19 on Mon-
became infected last month cancellation of his visa yet day, and did not mention the
— though he did not spell again. photographer’s status.
out what inaccuracies he was
referring to. On the form, Djokovic said “While I went home after the
he had not traveled in the 14 interview to isolate for the re-
The statement was posted days before his flight to Aus- quired period, on reflection,
while the men’s tennis No. tralia, despite being seen in this was an error of judg-
1 was in Rod Laver Arena Spain and Serbia in that pe- ment,” Djokovic said.
holding a practice session, riod.
his third on the tournament’s At the time, Serbia required
main court since being re- In his statement, Djokovic those who were infected with