Australia Grants and Then Cancels Djokovic’s Visa After Protests Erupt

Updated On Jan 6, 2022 by Landon Wheeler

Novak Djokovic StunnedSummary

  • Australia grant visa to Novak Djokovic for 2022 Australia Open
  • Aussies protest on social media over special treatment
  • Australia cancels visa for Novak Djokovic after he lands in Melbourne

The 2022 Australian Open is set to take place from 17 Jan to 30 Jan at Melbourne Park, Victoria. The Australia government made it clear in 2021 that it would only allow fully vaccinated international travellers into the country.

World number 1 Novak Djokovic who has said in the past that he is hesitant to take the vaccination was expected to skip the 2022 Australian Open.

However, towards the end of 2021 there were rumours circulating that Djokovic would be given a medical exemption and would be allowed entry into Australia.

Australia Grants Visa to Djokovic

Earlier this week, reports surfaced that Djokovic was given a medical exemption and granted a visa. The world number 1 who won the 2021 Australian Open was expected to travel to Australia and defend his championship.

The medical exemption to Djokovic did not come entirely as a surprise as the Australian Open needs the biggest names in tennis to play the tournament as it helps sell seats and increase TRP ratings.

When the Australian public found out that Djokovic was granted a medical exemption and was getting privileged treatment, they protested. Thousands of users took to different social media platforms to call out the Australian government for being two faced and treating Djokovic with a different set of rules.

Aussies all across the country have been protesting over the lockdown and restrictions that they have had to endure in 2021. Victorians have arguably suffered the most as they have been in extended lockdown and the government was not willing to relax any restrictions for the common man. The special treatment of Djokovic has not gone down well and the government has received a lot of backlash.

 

Australia Cancels Djokovic Visa

The protests appear to have had an impact as the Australian Border Force decided to cancel Djokovic’s visa once he arrived at the Tullamarine airport in Melbourne. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison also addressed the issue and said “rules are rules, hence no special treatment should be dished out“.

Djokovic was detained and held for a number of hours at the airport and was not allowed to leave the airport. His father has called for Serbians to protest the treatment of the world number one!

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All things casino related are what interests Landon, and having been involved in that industry for the last thirty years and having actually worked in several different roles in the casino industry he is definitely very well placed to keep you in the know in regards to what is happening in the casino industry as a whole.

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[…] tennis player in the world has been at the center of a massive controversy in Australia after he was detained in Melbourne due to visa issues that involve him getting a medical exemption to enter Australia even though he is not […]