Now it’s all about everything for Novak Djokovic (34)!
The trial of the Serbian tennis star will start in Melbourne on Monday at midnight (10 a.m. local time). Then the “Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia” decides whether the world number one is allowed to enter – or has to fly home again.
The hearing is public and will be about this Link broadcast live on the internet. Obviously too many want to follow the negotiation online, the server is overloaded. The court tries to solve the technical problems. The hearing of the tennis professional, represented by his lawyers, is ongoing.
BILD is live on site at the trial crime thriller!
There is a lot of party going on in front of the courthouse. Around 200 followers of the number 1 in the world have gathered, completely peaceful, chanting “Nole, Nole” and dancing to the sounds of Serbian music they play on their own instruments.
Inside is only Judge Anthony Kelly. The lawyers are connected online, Djokovic is represented by Nicolas Wood. Djokovic is only sitting in his deportation hotel in front of the live stream. The Australian government attorney, Christopher Tran, is also attending via video. Journalists are not allowed in the building.
Since the hearing began, the first thing that has been about how Djokovic got on the plane. What was he asked, what he had to present at check-in. Judge Anthony Kelly agrees with Djokovic: “What more should he have done?” He asked rhetorically. Previously, Djokovic lawyer Nicholas Wood stressed that his client did everything he believed he had to do to enter Australia. In addition, as has often been said, he had the approval of the two medical committees of the state of Victoria and the Australian government.
What is the reason for the legal battle?
The apparently unvaccinated Djokovic claims that he meets the criteria for an exemption for entry and that the documents he has submitted entitle him to do so.
The Australian border guard, however, sees it differently, did not let the athlete into the country on January 5th and wanted to deport him again. Djokovic’s lawyers objected to this, which is why the 20-time Grand Slam winner is currently stuck in a deportation hotel.
His mother described the conditions there as “not humane” during protests in Belgrade on Sunday. Her son wouldn’t even have breakfast, could only stare at the wall, not see the park in front of it or leave the room.
What arguments does the Djokovic side have?
In their objection to the deportation, the lawyers list three points that should convince the judges. Djokovic assumed that he was entitled to travel to Australia and the state of Victoria to play the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, the Australian Open, for the following reasons:
► 1. He was in possession of a visa that was not restricted by a relevant condition.
► 2. He had received a medical vaccination exemption certificate from the tournament organizer, which was issued after a review by a government body of the state of Victoria.
► 3. He had received a document from the Ministry of the Interior in which he was informed that he met the requirements for entry without quarantine.
What is the other side saying?
Djokovic’s opponent this time around is none other than the Australian government. A 13-page statement states: “There is no such thing as an assurance of entry for a non-Australian to Australia. (…) The applicant interprets words in the law that are not there. ”Means: Only the nation of Australia decides who is allowed to enter.
The hammer comes at the end of the document, however. The government makes it clear: if the court agrees Djokovic, the state has the right to arrest the tennis professional again immediately! So it is possible that a victory in court would only be a stage win for Djokovic – and the crime will drag on.
The Australian government actually wanted to have two more days to prepare, so it didn’t want the hearing to take place until Wednesday. That was rejected by the court. On the night of Sunday (local time), the government submitted documents in which it indicated that Djokovic was referring to old, no longer valid regulations.
The former New Zealand judge and immigration law expert Michael Q. Todd (59) explains to BILD: “There are three ways to enter Australia unvaccinated: First, medical evidence that you cannot be vaccinated for health reasons. Second: That you could not tolerate the first vaccination or third: You are under twelve years of age. “
Todd continues: “Djokovic actually only has one option: He would have to prove that he could not tolerate a possible first vaccination. The fact that he was allegedly infected in the past six months does not give him any legitimacy to enter Australia. “
What are the controversies?
Djokovic’s exception authorization to participate in the 2G tournament is based on the lawyers’ claim that the vaccine skeptic tested positive for the corona virus a second time on December 16, 2021 and is therefore considered to have recovered. A short time later, several photos emerged that cast doubt on this story:
► On the day of the allegedly positive test, Djokovic appeared in public at an event organized by the Serbian Post, hugging children without a mask.
► On December 18th – two days after the supposedly positive test – he had a photo shoot for an award ceremony for the French newspaper “L’Équipe” – also without a mask.
Djokovic’s parents took part in a protest rally in downtown Belgrade on Sunday. “Today is a great day. Today the whole world will hear the truth, ”said Mother Dijana. “We hope that Novak will come out a free man. We believe in him, but also in the independent judiciary in Melbourne. ”And Father Srdjan added:“ We are proud people. They cannot break us. ”His son is the“ personification of freedom, everything human that a person carries within ”.
So things could get hot in court …
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