A whole people behind their idol. While Novak Djokovic woke up once once more this Friday, January 7 morning, Orthodox Christmas Day, in a Melbourne detention center following the cancellation of his visa, the anger and the mobilization of his supporters did not weaken .
Ten days before the start of the Australian Open (January 17 to 30), of which he is the three-time defending champion, Djokovic spent a second night in a cramped room at the Park Hotel in Melbourne, used by the Australian government to detain people in an irregular situation.
The “Djoker”, whose visa was canceled for lack of documents necessary to obtain a medical exemption from the vaccination obligation, will not be expelled before Monday, the date of a new hearing before a judge in Melbourne.
A case that has become political
The building in which the world number 1 is held suffers from a bad reputation. A fire broke out there in December, forcing his evacuation. Selected people complained on social networks, with photos to support them, of finding maggots and mold in food and in October, 21 people contracted Covid-19 there. “This hotel is infamous in the true sense of the word”, denounced Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.
The Serbian authorities, he stressed, are doing “All they can” to help Djokovic, specifying that the Prime Minister, Ana Brnabic, is to meet with a senior official of the Australian ministry of immigration and borders. Belgrade intends to ask the Australian authorities to allow Djokovic to stay in the house he had rented for the Australian Open.
The Serbian Foreign Ministry said in a statement released late Thursday followingnoon, having expressed a “Oral protest” to the Australian Ambassador in Belgrade because of the “Inappropriate treatment” to which the player has been exposed. “Novak Djokovic is neither a criminal, nor a terrorist nor an illegal migrant, but he was treated in this way by the Australian authorities which causes the indignation of his supporters and the citizens of Serbia”, specifies the press release.
Novak “crucified”
The player’s family organized a demonstration of support in Serbia on Thursday. Without containing his fury, the tennis player’s father, Srdjan Djokovic, addressed a crowd gathered in Belgrade to denounce a “Political witch hunt” and one “Crown-fascism”, calling for the release of his son.
“He fulfilled all the conditions necessary for his entry and his participation in the tournament which he would have won of course. Because it is regarding Novak, the best tennis player and sportsman of the world », he proclaimed during a press conference.
“Jesus was crucified and subjected to many things, but he held and is still alive among us. Novak is also crucified in the same way, he the best sportsman and man in the world. He will hold on “, also estimated the player’s father, asking ” A support [à son fils], not violence ”.
Australian Home Secretary Karen Andrews on Friday dismissed accusations that Djokovic was being held once morest his will, assuring that he might return home whenever he wanted:
“Mr. Djokovic is not being held captive in Australia. He is free to leave whenever he wishes and the border police will facilitate his departure. “
Mme Andrews also confirmed that two other people, players or staff coming for the Australian Open, also have visa problems.
Rafael Nadal sharp
The Serbian community in Melbourne also mobilized by demonstrating alongside vaccine slayers and migrant defenders in front of the Park Hotel.
“Why didn’t you tell him anything before he came to Australia?” Why now ? (…) I love Australia, but what you are doing now is a shame for you ”Gordana, a Serbian who has lived in Australia for 26 years, got angry with AFP.
Already present in Australia, Spaniard Rafael Nadal, who contracted Covid-19 last month despite two doses of the vaccine, expressed little sympathy for his Serbian rival. “If you are vaccinated you can play the Australian Open and anywhere, and in my opinion the world has suffered enough not to play by the rules”Nadal said.
Anger of Australians
As Serbian politicians vie with nationalist comments to defend their champion, the already struggling Australian prime minister faces questions regarding how to deal with the incident as the elections approach.
Scott Morrison, under pressure from the explosion in the number of Covid-19 cases and the collapse of the once-effective screening system, has defended himself from revoking Djokovic’s visa at the last minute. “The rules are the rules and there is no special case”, he said.
But many Australians, angry at a death toll that rose to more than 70,000 infections per day following almost two years with almost no cases, see the Djokovic case as a diversion.
“It is happening while we have a major crisis underway with Omicron, and it suits the government well”Australian Medical Association vice-president Chris Moy told AFP. “It’s really disturbing from a health point of view (…) we need governments that focus on the health crisis, not on stupid stuff, frankly”. For him, the Djokovic episode is like watching “From reality TV” whereas “Rome is burning”.
