MELBOURNE, Australia —
Novak Djokovic was
deported from Australia Sunday having lost a sensational legal battle over his
coronavirus vaccination status and with his dream of clinching a record 21st
Grand Slam in tatters.
اضافة اعلان
An “extremely disappointed” Djokovic said he would
comply with a unanimous Federal Court decision to uphold his visa cancellation
over fears he could stoke anti-vaccine sentiment.
“I cannot stay in
Australia and participate in the
Australian Open,” he said on the eve of a
tournament that he has dominated for a decade.
“I hope that we can all now focus on the game and
tournament I love.”
An AFP reporter captured images of Djokovic at
Melbourne’s Tullamarine airport late Sunday, as the humbled star boarded a
flight for Dubai.
Just hours earlier, in a few dry words, the chief
justice of Australia’s Federal Court, James Allsop, dispensed with the
unvaccinated tennis superstar’s attempt to reinstate his canceled visa and to
make tennis history.
“The orders of the court are that the amended
application be dismissed with costs,” Allsop said in understated remarks that
ended a week of legal high drama.
Three Federal
Court justices had listened to half a day of feisty legal back-and-forth about
Djokovic’s alleged risk to public order in Australia.
Immigration Minister Alex Hawke claimed Djokovic’s
stance could inspire anti-vaccine sentiment, leading some people to face the
pandemic without vaccination and inspiring anti-vaxxer activists to gather in
protests and rallies.
Hawke welcomed Sunday’s verdict, saying:
“Australia’s strong border protection policies have kept us safe during the
pandemic.”
“(They) are also fundamental to safeguarding
Australia’s social cohesion,” he said.
The player’s high-powered legal team tried but
failed to paint Australia’s effort to deport him as “irrational” and
“unreasonable”.
Despite the star being unvaccinated, lawyer Nick
Wood insisted his client had not courted anti-vaxxer support and was not
associated with the movement.
The government “doesn’t know what Mr. Djokovic’s
current views are”, Wood insisted.
The court did not endorse the government’s decision,
but ruled the action was legal under rules that give the minister exceptional
and almost unquestionable executive power.
Anti-vaccination ‘icon’
The Australian Open
defending champion and first seed had been scheduled to play against fellow
Serbian
Miomir Kecmanovic on Monday evening.
But Djokovic has spent much of the last week in
immigration detention, with his visa twice being revoked by the government over
his refusal to get a COVID-19 vaccine before arrival -- a requirement for most
visitors.
Government lawyer Stephen Lloyd said the fact
Djokovic was not vaccinated two years into the pandemic and had repeatedly
ignored safety measures — including failing to isolate while COVID-19 positive
— was evidence enough of his anti-vaccine views.
“He has now become an icon for the anti-vaccination
groups,” Lloyd said. “Rightly or wrongly he is perceived to endorse an
anti-vaccination view and his presence here is seen to contribute to that.”
In a written submission the government also pointed
out that Djokovic chose not to give evidence at the hearing.
“He could set the record straight if it needed
correcting. He has not — that has important consequences.”
Because of the format of the court, the justices’
decision would have been almost impossible to appeal.
Scott Morrison’s government had tried and failed to
remove Djokovic once before — on the grounds he was unvaccinated and that a
recent COVID infection was not sufficient for a medical exemption.
A lower circuit court judge ruled that officials at
Melbourne airport made procedural errors when canceling his visa.
For a few days, Djokovic was free to train — before
a second visa revocation and a return to a notorious Melbourne immigration
detention facility.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic lashed out at
Australian authorities.
“They think that they have by this, this
mistreatment of 10 days, humiliated Djokovic, but they have humiliated
themselves. Djokovic can return to his country with his head held high,” Vucic
told a state media outlet.
Vucic has remained steadfast in his support for
Djokovic throughout the drama, calling the earlier detention of the tennis star
a “political witch hunt”.
“I spoke earlier to Novak Djokovic after the
decision and I encouraged him. We look forward to seeing him return to his
country, where he is always welcome,” the president added.
‘With or without him’
Many Australians — who have
suffered prolonged lockdowns and border restrictions — believe the player gamed
the system to dodge vaccine entry requirements.
The case has been seized on by culture warriors in
the roiling debate over vaccines and how to handle the pandemic.
The tennis ace contracted
COVID-19 in mid-December —
allowing for the medical exemption — and, according to his own account, failed
to isolate despite knowing he was positive.
Public records show he attended a stamp unveiling
and a youth tennis event, and granted a media interview around the time he got
tested and his latest infection was confirmed.
Djokovic is tied with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal
with 20 Grand Slam titles each.
Spanish great Nadal took a swipe at his rival on
Saturday as players complained the scandal was overshadowing the opening Grand
Slam of the year.
“The Australian Open is much more important than any
player,” Nadal told reporters at Melbourne Park.
“The Australian Open will be a great Australian Open with or
without him.”
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