UK Secretary of Housing Michael Gove declined to comment on whether Novak Djokovic could join Wimbledon this year if tennis players were not vaccinated against COVID-19.
Talk to Sky news On Monday, Gove said he must “respect the completeness” of Australia’s “complex process” when Djokovic’s visa was canceled when he entered Melbourne Airport just before the Australian Open on January 17. rice field.
“Australia has a complex process underway. We need to respect the integrity of that process. Wimbledon is a few months away,” when Djokovic was asked if he would attend this year’s Wimbledon event. , Gove said. June 27th in London.
“What I say to everyone is that it’s good to be vaccinated, good for you, for others, for society, but in Djokovic’s particular case, well, I’m it. I’ll leave the Australian authorities to decide for now, “Gove said. “And, as I say, there are a lot of sporting highlights before reaching Wimbledon.”
Djokovic has recently been at the center of the vaccination controversy after jumping into Australia and offering a medical exemption from the Australian Open vaccination requirements later this month in Melbourne.
The tax exemption was granted by Tennis Australia and the Victorian Government.
However, Australia has the strictest COVID-19 vaccination border entry requirements in the world, and tennis players were subsequently revoked after five hours at Melbourne Airport.
“The ABF confirmed that Mr. Djokovic did not provide adequate evidence to meet the entry requirements for Australia, and his visa was subsequently revoked,” said the Australian Border Force (ABF). .. In the statement January 6th.
Shortly thereafter, the Serbian champion was taken to an immigration camp in Australia.
Djokovic’s father, Srdjan Djokovic, argues that the way his son was treated in Australia was politically motivated, and his athlete’s son was of the same kind as the other 25 tennis players who were exempt. Said that he submitted the documents. There was a problem with the document.
“This has nothing to do with sports. It’s a political agenda. Novak is the best player and best athlete in the world, but hundreds of millions of people from the West can hate it. I can’t, “Srdjan told reporters.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucichursday also called the event “political persecution.”
“Unfairness is this political persecution in which even the Australian Prime Minister is in attendance,” he added, “afraid that this kind of political rant against Novak Djokovic will continue.” rice field.
“They want to prove something else. When they can’t beat someone, they do this,” he said.
Djokovic was finally released from a Melbourne immigration detention hotel on Monday after federal judge Anthony Kelly revived his visa after a lengthy hearing.
A judge in the federal court will have the player respond to the authorities by 5:20 am and 8:30 am on January 6th.
However, Judge Kelly said the call to cancel the visa was made before that deadline at 7:42 am, before Djokovic spent time “consulting with others” and submitting more on his behalf. Stated.
The Australian government also admitted that the tennis player had not given enough time to make his claim while being detained at the airport after arriving in the country.
Kelly ordered him to return Djokovic’s passport and all other personal belongings. Federal lawyer Anthony Tran said the government would comply with the order, but immigration minister Alex Hawke could exercise his discretion to revoke Djokovic’s visa. Stated.
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Katabella Roberts is a reporter currently based in Turkey. She focuses primarily on the United States and covers the news and business of The Epoch Times.