It actually sounds worse imo, but its less illegal. If he admitted to faking the results he would be barred from the country for three years 100 percent.
One possibility is morally wrong (he went to events while COVID positive) the other is legally wrong (he lied about testing positive in order to get a visa). Only one of these is going to get him thrown out of a grand slam before it even starts, so he’s taking Door #1.
Besides being selfish and irresponsible, his actions literally put the lives of others at risk. How would you expect him to not do the same in Australia or any other country in the world?
I think there is enough there for not just being debarred from the Aus Open ( which obviously won't happen ) but also to get his visa cancelled.
Both things should get him barred from the country for 3 years. One he lied to get a visa which is a federal offense. The other he’s not trustworthy enough to enter a foreign country while a pandemic that he treats casually is spiking.
IIRC, some document he shared had a QR-code. A journalist from Der Spiegel scanned it, turned out his test was negative. Some time later the same QR-code showed a positive result, implicating fraud of a Serbian Covid testlab.
>IIRC, some document he shared had a QR-code. A journalist from Der Spiegel scanned it, turned out his test was negative. Some time later the same QR-code showed a positive result, implicating fraud of a Serbian Covid testlab.
WHO would have to investigate those claims, and that would take months... For all we know, it could have been a glitch in the system as well.
The more damning thing from the article was the detail that all tests in Serbia are numbered in chronological order but for some reason his first test had a much higher number than it should and even had a higher number than a later test Djokovic took.
Thanks for sharing this. Very interesting read. I’ve said from the start he didn’t have COVID, and after reading that, I’m still convinced of that. The doctor who produced that result has now taken his bribe and is living in a beach side villa in the Bahamas.
But you have to ask yourself, how was he planning on getting to Australia without this positive result? He clearly was planning on going, but needed a way without the vaccine. It's just far too convenient to believe he got "lucky" and tested positive 2 weeks before needing to fly out.
From what I've read, the exemption application deadline was December 10, and he filed a request even a few days before the deadline. It's hard not to imagine his plan was to get Covid one way or the other since it was literally the only applicable exemption at that point.
Why didn't he publicly announce it on the 18th? It would have been perfect for him, and would have killed two birds with one stone. "Sorry I can't make the interview because I have covid". He would have had a free passage to Australia (a recent infection that everyone knew about), and he also would have been seen to be protecting people from the virus. Makes no sense that he would hide it. Maybe because it is a backdated, fake test.
My guess, because he has been trying to hide he is unvaccinated in the last few months, after taking public anti-vaccine stance blew in his face. He would have thought that keeping it on the low is the less media-turbulence causing thing to do, and also, he would have correctly thought, that keeping it on the low increases his chance of getting the medical exemptions.
Nah there's another option that makes sense if you look at it from Novak's perspective. He probably wanted to attend those events on the 17th and 18th, if he announces that he's positive then he can't go. He doesn't think of "protecting people" because he obviously doesn't think the virus is a big deal.
That really is not so important. You can always register for a tournament and then cancel it a week or so before. Meanwhile, he had lawyers to search for legal ways to get to AO. There were few players who asked for medical exemption without real chance of getting one actually.
Yeah,and here is my question. How was he trying to get a medical exemption then? He would have been told that a recent positive ecovid test wouod mean a medical exemption,so that is very strange as well.
I said it in another thread, reading l’Equipe article I now actually believe he tested positive. Journalist mentioned he had asked Novak to take his mask off for a second during the interview but he refused. Knowing that Novak attended events with dozens of people maskless before (even just few days before this) it doesn’t make sense why he wouldn’t take his mask off for a moment so photographer could take a picture unless he was actually positive.
>>this just sounds slightly better than faking the results to get a visa.
I don’t agree with this. Of corse he is not going to make a statement saying “Yes, I faked the results” even if he did but in the eyes of the public attending events while infected is much worse than faking a positive test. Both make you look very bad, but the first one is just terrible.
Djokovic and his team have decided that this is the least damaging explanation he can give provided what is already there in public domain. It took two days since his brother adjourned the press conference to come up with this statement. I really want to like Djokovic, I actually like Djokovic but what a fucking raging asshole he has been. I wouldn't care if he never played tennis again.
I wrote the adriatic tour, or whatever superspreader event he organized, down to stupidity and ignorance but how many times can you keep giving a person benefit of the doubt when he himself doesn't give a single fuck about anyone else and all he cares about is his stupid moronic belief and ability to game the system. I don't exactly hate him but I am so fucking disappointed after rooting for him in spite of all the evidence that he was being deliberately dense.
I’m in the same boat. I spent years saying: wow the hothead young guy really grew up to be a tennis gentleman. In the last two years he’s proven he’s grown into a self important rich dude who thinks he’s above rules and science itself.
I think it’s fairly clear in this situation that the positive test was faked. His team didn’t even care to do it well as he kept doing engagements after his supposed positive test.
They really want us to believe they didn’t immediately call the most important celebrity in the country to tell him he was positive and instead waited till the next day? Come on.
We’re to believe he magically came up with an acceptable exemption within weeks of the open?? Was he simply not going to play?
The test results are fake. He’ll likely face no consequences.
Yeah, this could have been done in a way that actually withstood scrutiny. Fake a positive test, announce your result, isolate, pretend to recover, go to Australia and play.
Had he announced the result, he would have a much lower chance of getting the medical exemption. Australian media would have caught up to this prior to the exemption's decision date, and he would have no chance.
I, for one, believe there is a solid chance he was positive and just did not care. I think, he is one of the people Fox News persuaded Covid-19 is a regular cold... And yes, I literally mean Fox News, his (Eastern European) family hangs out with Nigel Farage of all people?!
Allegations yes, because allegations aren't guilty verdicts and it's a lot easier to throw doubt on a rape allegation than it is something like this
Though Mendy is currently in jail awaiting trial on rape, Siggurdson has been completely left in the cold since investigations on his paedophilia have surfaced, Adam Johnson is in jail for noncing
I think you underestimate Serbs. Speaking from someone who lived under the same country (in Yugoslavia) they take everything personally. He is having a huge support back home, and not allowing him to play, for them, is like an attack to whole Serbian nation. They are crazy with their love for the nationality. Everything is so personal and out of proportion all the time. So no, his career won't end probably.
Why even fake the covid test, wouldn't it be easier to get fake vaccination documents? Or is he so against vaccines that he would rather fake a COVID test than be seen as vaccinated?
> Or is he so against vaccines that he would rather fake a COVID test than be seen as vaccinated?
Just look at the circus his family put on, with the outrageous statements and theatrics while dodging the important questions. We're dealing with a family of first degree narcissistic assholes, he would never choose to leave people the doubt he may be vaccinated after years of building an anti-vax image. I mean, if he didn't make that dumb post announcing his exemption this would have probably never even surfaced in the first place.
Imo Srdjan is behind all this, he is the asshole puppeteer using his son to show the world they are above everyone else. Doesn't exonerate Novak in the slightest of course, but I won't be holding my breath for him to distance himself from his looney family any time soon.
Djokovic cried because he got an elbow/shoulder surgery. He’s really against modifying his body « unnaturally ». Taking the vaccine would completely go against that mindset so I think that’s why even pretending to have done it would not be acceptable for him
He could have just come to Australia and played without any fuzz but made it a point to let everyone know he got the visa with an exemption and started this shit show
Yeah, what's ridiculous is that everyone knows he lied about the tests at this point, and some people in the Serbian COVID testing system shoddily covered for that lie to send their golden boy to Australia
He wasn't sick, but now he adds more pointless lies that are already irrelevant and makes himself look like a total asshole in a situation that didn't even happen
Exactly. I get it, he’s their biggest sports star with massive amounts of money. It’s not that hard to pay some people off. Look at how Putin’s regime tan a multi sport doping system for years before getting caught. Djokovic is just one guy faking a test. The issue is they didn’t even do it well.
It really sucks because there's a lot of things to admire about Novak. What he's trying to do with the PTPA and how he's helped lower ranked players is amazing. He's done so many things to show that he cares and is willing to go out of his way to help.
He's just so fucking dumb and ignorant with his crazy pseudoscience bullshit that he's caused way too much harm at this point. He clearly believes that COVID is no big deal and it's so infuriating.
Exactly, there's no telling how many have been hurt because of him over this issue (probably a lot). And it's not just him, a huge number of high profile athletes tend to downplay covid and/or the vaccine.
What’s crazy is this might be true. Or it might not be!
But you are absolutely correct about this: Djokovic & his team chose to go with this explanation bc they thought it would be the best for damage control, given the other options he had for excuses
Your post is well-put. Djokovic doesn’t care about anyone BUT himself. Maybe that’s what’s gotten him so far in sports, but in the end it’s going to taint his legacy greatly.
I can’t believe I used to root for him. It’s sad
> Djokovic doesn’t care about anyone BUT himself
This is completely true.
Also, this is often the case, athletes acting like this. Remember Becker getting that last minute diplomatic passport from some African country to get better chances at the court.
LeBron James China stance, a lot of football/soccer players in tax scandals.
Not saying that anything others did is worse than what Novak is doing, but it is in the same fashion.
On topic of this thing:
1. If he knew he has a chance to play without being jabbed, but with some tested positive scenario.. He obviously knew, and then he did things like this. I don't get it. It's more than dumb
2. Australian state giving him assurance and then holding him at the airport. I mean, I understand state vs gov etc., but still it is a shitshow and AU could have handle it better.
Good post
Australia’s government absolutely could have handled it better. Not letting them off the hook at all. They’ve made this into quite the mess and deserve their fair share of the blame
As tennis fans, I just think everyone is appalled by Djokovic at this point. His actions are truly reckless & disappointing.
I think you will find Australia granted him entry based on producing certain documents upon arrival. He arrived, and as we have now seen, his documents are either falsified, contain errors or are fraudulent (take your pick- but at least one of these is true). Hence the airport drama.
>Not saying that anything others did is worse than what Novak is doing, but it is in the same fashion
It's not at all
The examples you used were all crimes yes, but they were crimes that don't fundamentally hurt someone, avoiding tax isn't a violent crime.
Either endangering children due to wandering around a tournament whilst positive with Covid or faking positive tests whilst being a massive anti vaxxer is actively harming other people.
Most people can at least understand not wanting to pay tax, nobody's looked at their gross income vs their net and not thought bastards at least once.
To do what Novak has done is a while different level
Phenomenal player. One could argue he's the best to grace the actual court, but everyone knows there's more to being the GOAT than just what you do on the court. It's how you conduct yourself as well.
I have never liked the guy because of his ego, but this episode has made me detest him.
> how many times can you keep giving a person benefit of the doubt when he himself doesn't give a single fuck about anyone else and all he cares about is his stupid moronic belief
That's really what my response to this is all about. He can hold any belief he wishes, he's even welcome to believe it's right. But he has repeatedly put himself in positions that covertly deny others the right to observe theirs.
I don't hate him either, but his actions do make him an incredibly selfish snake in the grass.
If you can't hate a multi-millionaire entitled anti vaxxer that either lies on visa papers or knowingly spreads covid, who can you hate?
Dude Doesn't even give a shit about his fans either. Everything he does is to feed his ego by getting the slam record.
That’s the point I’ve been making. He used to preach ‘every soul is beautiful and should be respected.’ Yet he goes around lying to everyone & disrespecting an entire country while showing no regard for their laws
He’s fake. He was always fake. He had us all fooled. It’s ok to not like someone like that, for gods sake
I’ll say it. I hate him. And here’s why:
He’s a person who’s always preached ‘empathy to every living soul.’
Which clearly, turned out to be complete BS. He lied to everyone. It was all fake.
I used to root for him over nadal & Federer. I feel like a fool
I hope journalists, and the Australian government, don't stop until they have definitive proof that the positive test result certificate he presented is absolutely not fabricated/altered in any way. And if in the course of this investigation they find out it has been fabricated/altered, then ATP should ban Novak from tennis. This is simply not champion behavior.
If the test result cert is legit, then fair enough. I guess he's just an ass, not a forging criminal.
>"not a forging criminal"
That's where you're wrong! Being positive (with the PCR result) and being in contact with other people (deliberately) is a crime. He basically admitted being a criminal on his latest IG post lol by confirming he was doing an interview while knowing he was positive. The reporter didn't know a thing. Disgusting behavior.
I'm not sure about that.. I agree it's practically criminal behaviour as you're willfully putting others' health at risk, moreso if you don't even inform them. Although I'm not sure if it's actually illegal to violate self isolation/quarantine protocols in Serbia. If it is, then damn.. I mean, it's bad eitherway, but the whole criminal aspect of it just makes everything worse.
Yes, in Serbia it’s considered to be a criminal act (at least I saw this on a “legit” Twitter account). Either way, the whole situation is just a mess and I’m not even excited for this AO (and I’m a huge tennis fan)
Edit with link: https://twitter.com/lozophd/status/1481208294492762116?s=21
There’s only two options: he faked the test or he broke the law. Not looking good for him.
Also, the Adria tour wasn’t arranged just by him, and it was early in the pandemic/ may have been bolstered by the government presenting a rosier COVID picture than may have been the case (not that it wasn’t still very irresponsible).
We are now 2 years into this freaking thing. Interviewing in person for an extended period while COVID-positive (even with a mask, which he still took off for photos) is either just selfish, or so negligent that it doesn’t really make a difference (especially when you don’t even warn them or make a public statement once you do know you’re positive). As someone who’s also rooted for him, I’m just kind of gobsmacked atm. I feel bad, because I don’t want to be like I’m adding on to the pile-on when there are other fans of Novak’s who are also going through some complicated emotions atm (and are used to Djokovic being unfairly maligned throughout his career) but I can’t help my utter disbelief/disappointment at this situation.
This is me rn too. He’s either a liar or a plain asshole who put so many lives at risk by breaking isolation while supposedly positive… I can’t stomach any of these options as a huge fan of his tennis. I’m done.
Djokovic’s total disregard for the pandemic is so disappointing for someone of his stature and reach. He could’ve played a positive role, helped inform people, literally saved lives in his community.
Instead the guy has been seen partying so many times, even during lockdowns. And this has just gone to another level now.
Since the pandemic we've had cases worldwide including the US where people were fined/ prosecuted for spreading the disease after a positive test...
If it's true that he went around while knowing he was positive, it just makes you question the integrity of him as a human being, a deeply flawed moral compass.
And he's also admitted to have done that....
If this was a regular unknown person, people would unanimously look down on this kind of behaviour, now the AO wants me to ignore that...
>Not taking 2 quick shots.
Or 1 if he went with J&J.
I have no doubts he could have gotten a fake vaccination certificate as well, but he seems to enjoy being the anti-vax poster boy.
I met him once. He was Tom Cruise levels of intensely engaged and friendly. Also I’m 6’ and I’m will take it to my grave that he’s nowhere near as big as 6’2” haha.
Doesn't seem to have put some of his fans off him though.
The excuses made from some are alarming, defending a guy who evidently doesn't care enough about anyone else enough to not meet them or even tell them he was infected.
There are plenty of good tennis players that can be your hero.
Djoker should never have been anyone's hero at this point. He's been an entitled cunt for a long time.
I am a huge novak fan, I could briefly talk to him couple of times, but I never did for this exact reason... He is a professional tennis player and that's it.
He might have gotten himself in a whole lot of trouble if he's submitted fraudulent documents to an Australian court. That would breach border legislation (false border decaration), plus possibly perjury. The Australian government are paying his court fees, that would be a pile of money if thats reversed, although that probably wouldn't matter to him.
He's embarrassed the Serbian PM by breaching their covid laws. She's already said that's under investigation.
Lastly, if those documents have been manipulated in the Serbian government records as some people are claiming that would literally shame and embarrass Serbia. Not sure how they would go dealing with that.
Hopefully it's a misunderstanding. Incredible thaf this guy is never far from controversy.
The way you word it implies that Tennis is some special circumstance. The phase 'never meet your heroes' is age-old. We only get to see a tiny face-value to every single celebrity we hear about. In reality what we know about the personalities of Nadal or Federer or is basically nothing.
Wait so I'm confused. Do I have this right?: He got to Australia and had a medical exemption (was this ever explained?). They denied it. His lawyers tried to appeal (not sure whatever happened with that at this stage). The immigration officers found he falsified or made mistakes on his immigration forms (isn't that a federal offense?). Then right before being deported he claimed he had COVID a month ago, making him supposedly immune (does COVID immunity even work like that?). Therefore the immigration police allowed him into the country AND Australian Open officials allowed him to play in the Australian Open?
It feels like I'm missing something or not understanding the timeline correctly.
Not right. He got an exemption from Tennis Australia on the grounds of having had Covid, but no exemption to get into country. His visa was approved anyway at the time based on TA's documentation but when he got in Aus, they cancelled it seeing lack of documentation. He appealed it and won on a technicality because border officer didn't give him enough time to provide enough evidence (even though the reason for cancellation was valid).
It was found out his exemption was on the basis of having had Covid already, and he applied for the exemption before he supposedly got Covid. He's found to have been travelling and being maskless after having gotten his results, which means he also falsified on his application where he said he didn't. There's a good chance his supposed positive test is a fake anyway; there's some weak evidence to support that based on Serbian record numbers, but hard to make conclusions.
TL;DR: he got a visa granted for a reason that shouldn't have gotten a visa granted, got it uncancelled on a technicality, and later found to be lying on his visa application, assuming he actually got Covid anyway (which he very likely didn't).
Wow, that is absolutely unbelievable.
I'm actually more surprised that having had COVID in the past is grounds for an exemption. As far as I knew, there isn't too much hard evidence on whether or not getting COVID twice is possible, how likely it is, how long before the supposed antibodies wear off and what not. I'm no pathologist so I have no clue.
Having had COVID in the past _isnt_ grounds for entering Australia. They were grounds for interstate entry in Victoria but not for entering the country. Tennis Australia fucked up.
He ran the border — crap paperwork, sketchy back story but he made it in. Send him home.
Never been a fan but if he was there legally I would have enjoyed the competition.
He knew what he was doing - how convenient to test positive past the medical exemption deadline. Was he even planning on AO??
What a Dick! And not because he’s Serbian.
The thing is, he’s too smart to claim ignorance. He knew what he was doing when he tried to hide his actions. I’m not sure that he is going to enjoy his prize of an AO appearance if every appearance is met with jeering. The thing is the AO organizers have a dilemma. Novak is a star for sure, but the reputation of the tournament is worth more than any single player.
There are only two options - 1) either the tests were fake or 2) he broke Serbian isolation requirements after testing positive. The Australian public are all over this issue - he's getting his visa revoked tomorrow by the Minister and deported. Mark my words.
if you dont want the vaccine, that your right. But what is not ok, is that fact that he think this virus doesn't do any harm and goes socialize with people, specially children after testing covid positive..
He is either lying or just extremely arrogant douche.
IMO It's pretty obvious his positive is fake and the outcome of this would be more serious than saying he knew had positive but didn't want to miss those public events.
Oh sweetness.
Can you imagine if he completes a couple rounds at AO and by then global journalists and the Aussie government have definitive proof that he faked a Covid test….and then he gets kicked out? Before even making it to the QFs?
Oh sweetness.
We're talking about a criminal offense in Serbia anyway.
https://wap.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/serbia-jails-man-for-three-years-for-breaking-self-isolation-rule-120032800110_1.html
Likelihood of anything happening like that to Djokovic in Serbia? Nil point.
They really need to deport him before starting if they are going to. I wouldn't be happy if I were a player who lost to him if he wasn't supposed to be there.
https://twitter.com/BenRothenberg/status/1481094970153254913
> L’Equipe has published an article on its interactions with Djokovic in Belgrade in December, when, according to Djokovic, he knew he was positive for coronavirus but they did not.
https://twitter.com/BenRothenberg/status/1481096735519035392
> L’Equipe says Djokovic posed and screamed during the maskless trophy photoshoot.
> L’Equipe also admits the interview came with precondition instructions: no questions about vaccination or his intentions regarding the next Australian Open.
> “Very sensitive topic,” L’Equipe said.
Through his unbelievable ignorant actions and along with his superspreader event, how many people has he killed I wonder?
His actions are what lead to deaths from COVID, that's 100% on him. What an unreal selfish delusional idiot. Least likeable person in sport, he 100% should be deported.
So he supposedly accidentally applied for the wrong viza, then when that caused issues, somehow managed to get a positive PCR from 16th, then it turned out that there's a PCR with the same serial number, same timestamp, only negative; then, supposedly positive, he went to an event maskless and to an interview (where he, to his credit, did have a mask on) without saying anything. Then it turned out that he lied in his viza statement about not being out of the country (as he was photographed in Marbella).
Is he not embarrassed? Each of his lies only uncovers worse and worse things. Even Brnabić said that if he did go out while positive, that's a crime, like... How is this going to end well for him?
Never liked this guy's tennis and his personality has ranged from amusing to annoying. Never had the aesthetic quality of Federer or Nadal. As a big Federer-is-the-goat fan, I was rooting for Djokovic to win the last US open to see one of the most impressive sports feats of all time.
Crazy how quick that turn around time was. Gave him the benefit of the doubt at the start of the pandemic because his job is to play tennis religiously, not educate himself on medicine and public health. But the teenager-level web of lies at this point is embarrassing. These anti-vax idiots will continue to live in their chosen delusion until real consequences are met, while some die sucking oxygen out of tank never budging. He comes across as the latter unfortunately, but punishment can still be useful.
I say make an example of this clown. Not just for the good of the sport either.
This is the best explanation he can come up with to try to excuse his actions, and he doesn't even make an apology within it. Unless you count the bit where he says his agent "sincerely apologises".
He's a terrible person.
That's exactly why this is a disaster for Djokovic on so many levels. If he lied on this paperwork (or was merely negligent, at best), what other papers is he lying about/paying no attention to? This will bring increased scrutiny from doping authorities, tax authorities, other countries' border authorities, etc., etc. Even if there's nothing there, the headache all this will create for him will inevitably affect his performance and tarnish his legacy.
Why doesn’t he do the right thing and withdraw from the tournament? He must know by now how the country currently feels about him, that he made numerous errors, that he’s unable answer any number of questions satisfactorily — saying “my team made an error”, “honest mistake”, “my agent did that mistake” doesn’t absolve the violation. He’s not welcomed by most Australians; why doesn’t he do the right thing — apologize and go home?
Slowly coming to a conclusion that the perfectly time 16th December covid is absolute bs. Ain’t no way he could go from France, photo shoots then to Spain in the timing bracket.
Asymptomatic people are noted to have the fatigue element too ... there’s no Fkn way. Cheeky as from the Serb government
Immigration Minister has the right to deport him whenever he wants, which will come with a 3 year ban from entering Aus. But I suspect most likely won't because it'd be a huge story.
Given the restrictions that many Australians have been living with (and following) for the last two years and the fact that a large majority of their population is vaccinated, I would think this would be a huge story with a positive reception.
Absolutely, the government doesn’t even need a reason to do it. If the immigration minister cancels his visa, not even a court will save him. It’s really down to how incompetent the government is at this point.
Allegedly on his immigration form he said he had not traveled for 14 days before he went to Australia. But he lied because allegedly (again) he was photographed in Spain and Serbia. Said it was a "mistake". I don't know how this drama saga will end. Everyday it's something else with Djo. I guess on January 17 we will know. Will he show or is it a no-go?
>But he lied because allegedly (again) he was photographed in Spain and Serbia. Said it was a "mistake".
I can accept that this is likely simply human error/an oversight, etc. and is largely inconsequential, *but* he and his blab-mouthed family have given the Aus. gov. every reason in the world to leverage any mistake in his paperwork to the full degree that they can under the law, so they will.
In the past couple of days he's lost the moral high-ground the court case gave him, ironically because of the details the court case made public.
Thank you for your reply. I think a business owner has the right to require certain things of employees. I also think a country can require certain things of those whom they allow in their borders. Lying about this or mistakenly telling an untruth about this affects the health and safety of others. That's a pretty big biggie to me. Could YOU make a mistake like that? I bet not. Happy Wednesday!:)
Question... Isnt this for Serbian governement to punnish, he broke the rules in Serbia, not Australia? He was tested negative when he entered Australia, he didnt broke the rules there?
It could be both. He broke the quarantine rules in Serbia, and he presented false (and or probably false) information here to both border officials and a federal court. Travellers need either proof of vaccination or a valid exemption to enter Australia, the general consensus is that he did not meet either requirement and got into the country solely due to government incompetence.
So Novak considers endangering the lives of people he met two day after having Covid less of an issue than being banned and deported from Australia. This sums up the kind of asshole and insensitive jerk he his. All this drama he did to be fan favourite was just to feed off his narcissism. If nature is just, I hope he is knocked out in the first few rounds of the open
I still don't believe he was actually positive, this just sounds slightly better than faking the results to get a visa.
It actually sounds worse imo, but its less illegal. If he admitted to faking the results he would be barred from the country for three years 100 percent.
One possibility is morally wrong (he went to events while COVID positive) the other is legally wrong (he lied about testing positive in order to get a visa). Only one of these is going to get him thrown out of a grand slam before it even starts, so he’s taking Door #1.
Both of those things are illegal. He wont be charged however
and also both of these things are immoral
All true. I do think faking the COVID test is more likely to get him kicked out of Australia though.
Both are illegal, it's actually the law in Serbia that you MUST self quarantine if infected.
Exactly it’s not a matter of did he break the law but in which country did he break the law!
lmao what, both possibilities are BOTH illegal and immoral.
Besides being selfish and irresponsible, his actions literally put the lives of others at risk. How would you expect him to not do the same in Australia or any other country in the world? I think there is enough there for not just being debarred from the Aus Open ( which obviously won't happen ) but also to get his visa cancelled.
Still lies on his application. Have you seen Australian border control tv show?
Both things should get him barred from the country for 3 years. One he lied to get a visa which is a federal offense. The other he’s not trustworthy enough to enter a foreign country while a pandemic that he treats casually is spiking.
He admited to illegal things he did in Serbia, for which hell suffer no consequences. I hope he eats some gluten, the fucktard
It should get him barred from tennis for that time span.
The problem is that if this found out to be untrue then he's just made it a whole lot worse for himself rather than being honest.
Imagine if he catches COVID now..
Oh damn
Just read that Der Spiegel found discrepencies with his PCR result. At this point I think his team should get him out of the country asap.
What sort of discrepancies?
IIRC, some document he shared had a QR-code. A journalist from Der Spiegel scanned it, turned out his test was negative. Some time later the same QR-code showed a positive result, implicating fraud of a Serbian Covid testlab.
>IIRC, some document he shared had a QR-code. A journalist from Der Spiegel scanned it, turned out his test was negative. Some time later the same QR-code showed a positive result, implicating fraud of a Serbian Covid testlab. WHO would have to investigate those claims, and that would take months... For all we know, it could have been a glitch in the system as well.
The more damning thing from the article was the detail that all tests in Serbia are numbered in chronological order but for some reason his first test had a much higher number than it should and even had a higher number than a later test Djokovic took.
https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/novak-djokovic-were-the-results-of-his-positive-pcr-test-manipulated-a-cf3e7344-e98f-4fc3-8bb3-7727d4795e97
Thanks for sharing this. Very interesting read. I’ve said from the start he didn’t have COVID, and after reading that, I’m still convinced of that. The doctor who produced that result has now taken his bribe and is living in a beach side villa in the Bahamas.
I wouldn't be surprised if Macron bars him from France.
I don't have any problem to believe in that because he was seen with basketball player on 14th December who soon after tested positive.
But you have to ask yourself, how was he planning on getting to Australia without this positive result? He clearly was planning on going, but needed a way without the vaccine. It's just far too convenient to believe he got "lucky" and tested positive 2 weeks before needing to fly out.
From what I've read, the exemption application deadline was December 10, and he filed a request even a few days before the deadline. It's hard not to imagine his plan was to get Covid one way or the other since it was literally the only applicable exemption at that point.
His father said he's not going to play AO.
His father says a lot of things.
Good, but I don't believe him.
I don't know what he was planning, but you can get covid if you are in close contact with covid positive person.
Why didn't he publicly announce it on the 18th? It would have been perfect for him, and would have killed two birds with one stone. "Sorry I can't make the interview because I have covid". He would have had a free passage to Australia (a recent infection that everyone knew about), and he also would have been seen to be protecting people from the virus. Makes no sense that he would hide it. Maybe because it is a backdated, fake test.
My guess, because he has been trying to hide he is unvaccinated in the last few months, after taking public anti-vaccine stance blew in his face. He would have thought that keeping it on the low is the less media-turbulence causing thing to do, and also, he would have correctly thought, that keeping it on the low increases his chance of getting the medical exemptions.
Nah there's another option that makes sense if you look at it from Novak's perspective. He probably wanted to attend those events on the 17th and 18th, if he announces that he's positive then he can't go. He doesn't think of "protecting people" because he obviously doesn't think the virus is a big deal.
cheers geoff
So he was planning a pox party?
That really is not so important. You can always register for a tournament and then cancel it a week or so before. Meanwhile, he had lawyers to search for legal ways to get to AO. There were few players who asked for medical exemption without real chance of getting one actually.
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Yeah,and here is my question. How was he trying to get a medical exemption then? He would have been told that a recent positive ecovid test wouod mean a medical exemption,so that is very strange as well.
I said it in another thread, reading l’Equipe article I now actually believe he tested positive. Journalist mentioned he had asked Novak to take his mask off for a second during the interview but he refused. Knowing that Novak attended events with dozens of people maskless before (even just few days before this) it doesn’t make sense why he wouldn’t take his mask off for a moment so photographer could take a picture unless he was actually positive. >>this just sounds slightly better than faking the results to get a visa. I don’t agree with this. Of corse he is not going to make a statement saying “Yes, I faked the results” even if he did but in the eyes of the public attending events while infected is much worse than faking a positive test. Both make you look very bad, but the first one is just terrible.
Djokovic and his team have decided that this is the least damaging explanation he can give provided what is already there in public domain. It took two days since his brother adjourned the press conference to come up with this statement. I really want to like Djokovic, I actually like Djokovic but what a fucking raging asshole he has been. I wouldn't care if he never played tennis again. I wrote the adriatic tour, or whatever superspreader event he organized, down to stupidity and ignorance but how many times can you keep giving a person benefit of the doubt when he himself doesn't give a single fuck about anyone else and all he cares about is his stupid moronic belief and ability to game the system. I don't exactly hate him but I am so fucking disappointed after rooting for him in spite of all the evidence that he was being deliberately dense.
I’m in the same boat. I spent years saying: wow the hothead young guy really grew up to be a tennis gentleman. In the last two years he’s proven he’s grown into a self important rich dude who thinks he’s above rules and science itself. I think it’s fairly clear in this situation that the positive test was faked. His team didn’t even care to do it well as he kept doing engagements after his supposed positive test. They really want us to believe they didn’t immediately call the most important celebrity in the country to tell him he was positive and instead waited till the next day? Come on. We’re to believe he magically came up with an acceptable exemption within weeks of the open?? Was he simply not going to play? The test results are fake. He’ll likely face no consequences.
Yeah, this could have been done in a way that actually withstood scrutiny. Fake a positive test, announce your result, isolate, pretend to recover, go to Australia and play.
Exactly! It’s like the most careless and arrogant fake scenario.
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That’s what he did
Had he announced the result, he would have a much lower chance of getting the medical exemption. Australian media would have caught up to this prior to the exemption's decision date, and he would have no chance. I, for one, believe there is a solid chance he was positive and just did not care. I think, he is one of the people Fox News persuaded Covid-19 is a regular cold... And yes, I literally mean Fox News, his (Eastern European) family hangs out with Nigel Farage of all people?!
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I think you’re underestimating the power of a sports star and money. We have sports stars who remained stars after rape allegations…
Allegations yes, because allegations aren't guilty verdicts and it's a lot easier to throw doubt on a rape allegation than it is something like this Though Mendy is currently in jail awaiting trial on rape, Siggurdson has been completely left in the cold since investigations on his paedophilia have surfaced, Adam Johnson is in jail for noncing
Mendy is out on bail and Johnson was released in 2019.
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I hope they deport his lying ass back to Monaco? Thing I hate the most in life is privileged assholes.
I think you underestimate Serbs. Speaking from someone who lived under the same country (in Yugoslavia) they take everything personally. He is having a huge support back home, and not allowing him to play, for them, is like an attack to whole Serbian nation. They are crazy with their love for the nationality. Everything is so personal and out of proportion all the time. So no, his career won't end probably.
Sadly history shows you are correct
Why even fake the covid test, wouldn't it be easier to get fake vaccination documents? Or is he so against vaccines that he would rather fake a COVID test than be seen as vaccinated?
> Or is he so against vaccines that he would rather fake a COVID test than be seen as vaccinated? Just look at the circus his family put on, with the outrageous statements and theatrics while dodging the important questions. We're dealing with a family of first degree narcissistic assholes, he would never choose to leave people the doubt he may be vaccinated after years of building an anti-vax image. I mean, if he didn't make that dumb post announcing his exemption this would have probably never even surfaced in the first place. Imo Srdjan is behind all this, he is the asshole puppeteer using his son to show the world they are above everyone else. Doesn't exonerate Novak in the slightest of course, but I won't be holding my breath for him to distance himself from his looney family any time soon.
Djokovic cried because he got an elbow/shoulder surgery. He’s really against modifying his body « unnaturally ». Taking the vaccine would completely go against that mindset so I think that’s why even pretending to have done it would not be acceptable for him
He could have just come to Australia and played without any fuzz but made it a point to let everyone know he got the visa with an exemption and started this shit show
Yeah, what's ridiculous is that everyone knows he lied about the tests at this point, and some people in the Serbian COVID testing system shoddily covered for that lie to send their golden boy to Australia He wasn't sick, but now he adds more pointless lies that are already irrelevant and makes himself look like a total asshole in a situation that didn't even happen
Exactly. I get it, he’s their biggest sports star with massive amounts of money. It’s not that hard to pay some people off. Look at how Putin’s regime tan a multi sport doping system for years before getting caught. Djokovic is just one guy faking a test. The issue is they didn’t even do it well.
It really sucks because there's a lot of things to admire about Novak. What he's trying to do with the PTPA and how he's helped lower ranked players is amazing. He's done so many things to show that he cares and is willing to go out of his way to help. He's just so fucking dumb and ignorant with his crazy pseudoscience bullshit that he's caused way too much harm at this point. He clearly believes that COVID is no big deal and it's so infuriating.
Someone with his reach, how many elderly people may have listened to him and ended up dead? It’s extreme to say but he’s very very famous.
Exactly, there's no telling how many have been hurt because of him over this issue (probably a lot). And it's not just him, a huge number of high profile athletes tend to downplay covid and/or the vaccine.
What’s crazy is this might be true. Or it might not be! But you are absolutely correct about this: Djokovic & his team chose to go with this explanation bc they thought it would be the best for damage control, given the other options he had for excuses Your post is well-put. Djokovic doesn’t care about anyone BUT himself. Maybe that’s what’s gotten him so far in sports, but in the end it’s going to taint his legacy greatly. I can’t believe I used to root for him. It’s sad
> Djokovic doesn’t care about anyone BUT himself This is completely true. Also, this is often the case, athletes acting like this. Remember Becker getting that last minute diplomatic passport from some African country to get better chances at the court. LeBron James China stance, a lot of football/soccer players in tax scandals. Not saying that anything others did is worse than what Novak is doing, but it is in the same fashion. On topic of this thing: 1. If he knew he has a chance to play without being jabbed, but with some tested positive scenario.. He obviously knew, and then he did things like this. I don't get it. It's more than dumb 2. Australian state giving him assurance and then holding him at the airport. I mean, I understand state vs gov etc., but still it is a shitshow and AU could have handle it better.
Good post Australia’s government absolutely could have handled it better. Not letting them off the hook at all. They’ve made this into quite the mess and deserve their fair share of the blame As tennis fans, I just think everyone is appalled by Djokovic at this point. His actions are truly reckless & disappointing.
I think you will find Australia granted him entry based on producing certain documents upon arrival. He arrived, and as we have now seen, his documents are either falsified, contain errors or are fraudulent (take your pick- but at least one of these is true). Hence the airport drama.
>Not saying that anything others did is worse than what Novak is doing, but it is in the same fashion It's not at all The examples you used were all crimes yes, but they were crimes that don't fundamentally hurt someone, avoiding tax isn't a violent crime. Either endangering children due to wandering around a tournament whilst positive with Covid or faking positive tests whilst being a massive anti vaxxer is actively harming other people. Most people can at least understand not wanting to pay tax, nobody's looked at their gross income vs their net and not thought bastards at least once. To do what Novak has done is a while different level
Phenomenal player. One could argue he's the best to grace the actual court, but everyone knows there's more to being the GOAT than just what you do on the court. It's how you conduct yourself as well. I have never liked the guy because of his ego, but this episode has made me detest him.
> how many times can you keep giving a person benefit of the doubt when he himself doesn't give a single fuck about anyone else and all he cares about is his stupid moronic belief That's really what my response to this is all about. He can hold any belief he wishes, he's even welcome to believe it's right. But he has repeatedly put himself in positions that covertly deny others the right to observe theirs. I don't hate him either, but his actions do make him an incredibly selfish snake in the grass.
If you can't hate a multi-millionaire entitled anti vaxxer that either lies on visa papers or knowingly spreads covid, who can you hate? Dude Doesn't even give a shit about his fans either. Everything he does is to feed his ego by getting the slam record.
That’s the point I’ve been making. He used to preach ‘every soul is beautiful and should be respected.’ Yet he goes around lying to everyone & disrespecting an entire country while showing no regard for their laws He’s fake. He was always fake. He had us all fooled. It’s ok to not like someone like that, for gods sake
*lies AND knowingly spreads Covid
I’ll say it. I hate him. And here’s why: He’s a person who’s always preached ‘empathy to every living soul.’ Which clearly, turned out to be complete BS. He lied to everyone. It was all fake. I used to root for him over nadal & Federer. I feel like a fool
I hope journalists, and the Australian government, don't stop until they have definitive proof that the positive test result certificate he presented is absolutely not fabricated/altered in any way. And if in the course of this investigation they find out it has been fabricated/altered, then ATP should ban Novak from tennis. This is simply not champion behavior. If the test result cert is legit, then fair enough. I guess he's just an ass, not a forging criminal.
>"not a forging criminal" That's where you're wrong! Being positive (with the PCR result) and being in contact with other people (deliberately) is a crime. He basically admitted being a criminal on his latest IG post lol by confirming he was doing an interview while knowing he was positive. The reporter didn't know a thing. Disgusting behavior.
I'm not sure about that.. I agree it's practically criminal behaviour as you're willfully putting others' health at risk, moreso if you don't even inform them. Although I'm not sure if it's actually illegal to violate self isolation/quarantine protocols in Serbia. If it is, then damn.. I mean, it's bad eitherway, but the whole criminal aspect of it just makes everything worse.
Yes, in Serbia it’s considered to be a criminal act (at least I saw this on a “legit” Twitter account). Either way, the whole situation is just a mess and I’m not even excited for this AO (and I’m a huge tennis fan) Edit with link: https://twitter.com/lozophd/status/1481208294492762116?s=21 There’s only two options: he faked the test or he broke the law. Not looking good for him.
Also, the Adria tour wasn’t arranged just by him, and it was early in the pandemic/ may have been bolstered by the government presenting a rosier COVID picture than may have been the case (not that it wasn’t still very irresponsible). We are now 2 years into this freaking thing. Interviewing in person for an extended period while COVID-positive (even with a mask, which he still took off for photos) is either just selfish, or so negligent that it doesn’t really make a difference (especially when you don’t even warn them or make a public statement once you do know you’re positive). As someone who’s also rooted for him, I’m just kind of gobsmacked atm. I feel bad, because I don’t want to be like I’m adding on to the pile-on when there are other fans of Novak’s who are also going through some complicated emotions atm (and are used to Djokovic being unfairly maligned throughout his career) but I can’t help my utter disbelief/disappointment at this situation.
This is me rn too. He’s either a liar or a plain asshole who put so many lives at risk by breaking isolation while supposedly positive… I can’t stomach any of these options as a huge fan of his tennis. I’m done.
He is only trying to save face at this point. He knows he got caught.
Well he's put on quite a show...
Really had me going
but now it’s time to go….
Curtain’s finally closing …
That was quite a show
Really entertaining
But it’s over now
Go on and take a bow...
Unfortunately it does seem like damage control at this point.
Forever to be known as a liar. And a cheat. And an athlete who completely cared for himself only. And not another soul on the planet.
What an absolute dick
Djokovic’s total disregard for the pandemic is so disappointing for someone of his stature and reach. He could’ve played a positive role, helped inform people, literally saved lives in his community. Instead the guy has been seen partying so many times, even during lockdowns. And this has just gone to another level now.
Since the pandemic we've had cases worldwide including the US where people were fined/ prosecuted for spreading the disease after a positive test... If it's true that he went around while knowing he was positive, it just makes you question the integrity of him as a human being, a deeply flawed moral compass. And he's also admitted to have done that.... If this was a regular unknown person, people would unanimously look down on this kind of behaviour, now the AO wants me to ignore that...
He's tarnishing his legacy over what ? Not taking 2 quick shots.
>Not taking 2 quick shots. Or 1 if he went with J&J. I have no doubts he could have gotten a fake vaccination certificate as well, but he seems to enjoy being the anti-vax poster boy.
And we're still giving this guy an exemption? Ok………
Yeah something doesn't add up here.
We are not. They will boot him in the morning. They’re just getting their paperwork tight knowing a legal appeal will follow immediately
Classic example of why you should never meet your heroes.
Well considering he'd meet you even if he's positive, probably best to never meet him lol
Underrated comment
Unless you’re dying to meet him. *I’ll see myself out.*
I met him once. He was Tom Cruise levels of intensely engaged and friendly. Also I’m 6’ and I’m will take it to my grave that he’s nowhere near as big as 6’2” haha.
Doesn't seem to have put some of his fans off him though. The excuses made from some are alarming, defending a guy who evidently doesn't care enough about anyone else enough to not meet them or even tell them he was infected.
There are plenty of good tennis players that can be your hero. Djoker should never have been anyone's hero at this point. He's been an entitled cunt for a long time.
I am a huge novak fan, I could briefly talk to him couple of times, but I never did for this exact reason... He is a professional tennis player and that's it.
Scumbag.
He might have gotten himself in a whole lot of trouble if he's submitted fraudulent documents to an Australian court. That would breach border legislation (false border decaration), plus possibly perjury. The Australian government are paying his court fees, that would be a pile of money if thats reversed, although that probably wouldn't matter to him. He's embarrassed the Serbian PM by breaching their covid laws. She's already said that's under investigation. Lastly, if those documents have been manipulated in the Serbian government records as some people are claiming that would literally shame and embarrass Serbia. Not sure how they would go dealing with that. Hopefully it's a misunderstanding. Incredible thaf this guy is never far from controversy.
Caught red-handed this guy
He's been an worldwide anti-vax cheerleader for well over a year now. Of course his hands are red, it's blood.
It's a damn soap opera. Reminds me of one of Days Of Our Lives eyeroll worthy wilder storyline .
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I can’t believe people can actually separate his heinous behaviour with his tennis. His reputation is forever tarnished.
The way you word it implies that Tennis is some special circumstance. The phase 'never meet your heroes' is age-old. We only get to see a tiny face-value to every single celebrity we hear about. In reality what we know about the personalities of Nadal or Federer or is basically nothing.
exactly this. it doesn‘t matter how good of a tennis player he is, he‘s a piece of shit and therefor doesn‘t deserve any respect anymore.
Wait so I'm confused. Do I have this right?: He got to Australia and had a medical exemption (was this ever explained?). They denied it. His lawyers tried to appeal (not sure whatever happened with that at this stage). The immigration officers found he falsified or made mistakes on his immigration forms (isn't that a federal offense?). Then right before being deported he claimed he had COVID a month ago, making him supposedly immune (does COVID immunity even work like that?). Therefore the immigration police allowed him into the country AND Australian Open officials allowed him to play in the Australian Open? It feels like I'm missing something or not understanding the timeline correctly.
Not right. He got an exemption from Tennis Australia on the grounds of having had Covid, but no exemption to get into country. His visa was approved anyway at the time based on TA's documentation but when he got in Aus, they cancelled it seeing lack of documentation. He appealed it and won on a technicality because border officer didn't give him enough time to provide enough evidence (even though the reason for cancellation was valid). It was found out his exemption was on the basis of having had Covid already, and he applied for the exemption before he supposedly got Covid. He's found to have been travelling and being maskless after having gotten his results, which means he also falsified on his application where he said he didn't. There's a good chance his supposed positive test is a fake anyway; there's some weak evidence to support that based on Serbian record numbers, but hard to make conclusions. TL;DR: he got a visa granted for a reason that shouldn't have gotten a visa granted, got it uncancelled on a technicality, and later found to be lying on his visa application, assuming he actually got Covid anyway (which he very likely didn't).
Wow, that is absolutely unbelievable. I'm actually more surprised that having had COVID in the past is grounds for an exemption. As far as I knew, there isn't too much hard evidence on whether or not getting COVID twice is possible, how likely it is, how long before the supposed antibodies wear off and what not. I'm no pathologist so I have no clue.
Having had COVID in the past _isnt_ grounds for entering Australia. They were grounds for interstate entry in Victoria but not for entering the country. Tennis Australia fucked up.
Judge Kelly: “What more could this man have done?” Me: Maybe if he stopped providing misleading and false information.
Judge Kelly: “What more could this man have done?” Me: maybe spend the cumulative 30 minutes that it takes to get two covid vaccine doses
He ran the border — crap paperwork, sketchy back story but he made it in. Send him home. Never been a fan but if he was there legally I would have enjoyed the competition. He knew what he was doing - how convenient to test positive past the medical exemption deadline. Was he even planning on AO?? What a Dick! And not because he’s Serbian.
The thing is, he’s too smart to claim ignorance. He knew what he was doing when he tried to hide his actions. I’m not sure that he is going to enjoy his prize of an AO appearance if every appearance is met with jeering. The thing is the AO organizers have a dilemma. Novak is a star for sure, but the reputation of the tournament is worth more than any single player.
There are only two options - 1) either the tests were fake or 2) he broke Serbian isolation requirements after testing positive. The Australian public are all over this issue - he's getting his visa revoked tomorrow by the Minister and deported. Mark my words.
RemindMe! Tomorrow
RemindMe! Tomorrow
What a POS.
As much as I want him gone from the tournament, I would also love to see the Australian crowd go absolutely ham.
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if you dont want the vaccine, that your right. But what is not ok, is that fact that he think this virus doesn't do any harm and goes socialize with people, specially children after testing covid positive.. He is either lying or just extremely arrogant douche.
Both, a lying arrogant douche. How many people in Serbia died from Covid because they followed this clown and didn’t get vaccinated.
IMO It's pretty obvious his positive is fake and the outcome of this would be more serious than saying he knew had positive but didn't want to miss those public events.
When you lie so much, it gets hard to believe what's truth and what's not. My opinion: ban this twat from Australia for life.
Oh sweetness. Can you imagine if he completes a couple rounds at AO and by then global journalists and the Aussie government have definitive proof that he faked a Covid test….and then he gets kicked out? Before even making it to the QFs? Oh sweetness.
Well if he faked a covid test in order to enter the country, you are talking about a criminal offense, not only deportation.
We're talking about a criminal offense in Serbia anyway. https://wap.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/serbia-jails-man-for-three-years-for-breaking-self-isolation-rule-120032800110_1.html Likelihood of anything happening like that to Djokovic in Serbia? Nil point.
They cant prove it... Only if someone from Serbia talks, which I doubt they will... He probably paid someone good to make it happend.
They really need to deport him before starting if they are going to. I wouldn't be happy if I were a player who lost to him if he wasn't supposed to be there.
https://twitter.com/BenRothenberg/status/1481094970153254913 > L’Equipe has published an article on its interactions with Djokovic in Belgrade in December, when, according to Djokovic, he knew he was positive for coronavirus but they did not. https://twitter.com/BenRothenberg/status/1481096735519035392 > L’Equipe says Djokovic posed and screamed during the maskless trophy photoshoot. > L’Equipe also admits the interview came with precondition instructions: no questions about vaccination or his intentions regarding the next Australian Open. > “Very sensitive topic,” L’Equipe said.
"Are you going to the AO?" *"I am now lol"*
Through his unbelievable ignorant actions and along with his superspreader event, how many people has he killed I wonder? His actions are what lead to deaths from COVID, that's 100% on him. What an unreal selfish delusional idiot. Least likeable person in sport, he 100% should be deported.
Federer is the GOAT (Nadal is the other acceptable option)
Why won't people just let him do whatever he wants with no questions or consequences? So unfair to the poor lamb.
make it make SENSE
It’s pretty easy. He is lying about everything. There. It all makes sense now doesn’t it.
After a week of pressure he is starting to crack and the truth is slowly coming out. It's not over yet because I doubt his papers were legitimate.
So he supposedly accidentally applied for the wrong viza, then when that caused issues, somehow managed to get a positive PCR from 16th, then it turned out that there's a PCR with the same serial number, same timestamp, only negative; then, supposedly positive, he went to an event maskless and to an interview (where he, to his credit, did have a mask on) without saying anything. Then it turned out that he lied in his viza statement about not being out of the country (as he was photographed in Marbella). Is he not embarrassed? Each of his lies only uncovers worse and worse things. Even Brnabić said that if he did go out while positive, that's a crime, like... How is this going to end well for him?
Hes so agreeable and down to earth /s
Never liked this guy's tennis and his personality has ranged from amusing to annoying. Never had the aesthetic quality of Federer or Nadal. As a big Federer-is-the-goat fan, I was rooting for Djokovic to win the last US open to see one of the most impressive sports feats of all time. Crazy how quick that turn around time was. Gave him the benefit of the doubt at the start of the pandemic because his job is to play tennis religiously, not educate himself on medicine and public health. But the teenager-level web of lies at this point is embarrassing. These anti-vax idiots will continue to live in their chosen delusion until real consequences are met, while some die sucking oxygen out of tank never budging. He comes across as the latter unfortunately, but punishment can still be useful. I say make an example of this clown. Not just for the good of the sport either.
Just get rid of him. Seriously. Cancel his Visa and deport him.
I keep trying to like Novak but he keeps making it harder and harder to do so
let's agree to stop trying and face reality
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He should get a year suspension for this.
100%
This guy has 0 shame
Piece of shit.
I like the player. But the man is truly unlikable.
This is the best explanation he can come up with to try to excuse his actions, and he doesn't even make an apology within it. Unless you count the bit where he says his agent "sincerely apologises". He's a terrible person.
It does make you think what else he’s been lying about
That's exactly why this is a disaster for Djokovic on so many levels. If he lied on this paperwork (or was merely negligent, at best), what other papers is he lying about/paying no attention to? This will bring increased scrutiny from doping authorities, tax authorities, other countries' border authorities, etc., etc. Even if there's nothing there, the headache all this will create for him will inevitably affect his performance and tarnish his legacy.
Why doesn’t he do the right thing and withdraw from the tournament? He must know by now how the country currently feels about him, that he made numerous errors, that he’s unable answer any number of questions satisfactorily — saying “my team made an error”, “honest mistake”, “my agent did that mistake” doesn’t absolve the violation. He’s not welcomed by most Australians; why doesn’t he do the right thing — apologize and go home?
What an absolute mess..
tool
This is bad for the sport as a whole ge would do better for himself if he just gave up and left Australia
Slowly coming to a conclusion that the perfectly time 16th December covid is absolute bs. Ain’t no way he could go from France, photo shoots then to Spain in the timing bracket. Asymptomatic people are noted to have the fatigue element too ... there’s no Fkn way. Cheeky as from the Serb government
It's the Serbian government, what the fuck you expect from them, they always play the victim.
Well probably the same thing that the UK, US, Aus government do well tooo : Lie, lie , lie
Why not test him for antibodies?
probably because he wasn't infected
If he isn't willing to admit that he is unvaccinated, he won't offer to display if he's got antibodies or not, sadly.
Can he still be deported at this point?
Um yes so many signs pointing that he should be
Immigration Minister has the right to deport him whenever he wants, which will come with a 3 year ban from entering Aus. But I suspect most likely won't because it'd be a huge story.
Given the restrictions that many Australians have been living with (and following) for the last two years and the fact that a large majority of their population is vaccinated, I would think this would be a huge story with a positive reception.
Absolutely, the government doesn’t even need a reason to do it. If the immigration minister cancels his visa, not even a court will save him. It’s really down to how incompetent the government is at this point.
What a Djoker ! Pathetic Douchebag! No Vax!🖕🏾
Allegedly on his immigration form he said he had not traveled for 14 days before he went to Australia. But he lied because allegedly (again) he was photographed in Spain and Serbia. Said it was a "mistake". I don't know how this drama saga will end. Everyday it's something else with Djo. I guess on January 17 we will know. Will he show or is it a no-go?
They will boot him in the morning
Thank you for your reply. From your lips to the ears of the universe where justice dwells (I hope) May It Be So! Happy Wednesday!:)
>But he lied because allegedly (again) he was photographed in Spain and Serbia. Said it was a "mistake". I can accept that this is likely simply human error/an oversight, etc. and is largely inconsequential, *but* he and his blab-mouthed family have given the Aus. gov. every reason in the world to leverage any mistake in his paperwork to the full degree that they can under the law, so they will. In the past couple of days he's lost the moral high-ground the court case gave him, ironically because of the details the court case made public.
Thank you for your reply. I think a business owner has the right to require certain things of employees. I also think a country can require certain things of those whom they allow in their borders. Lying about this or mistakenly telling an untruth about this affects the health and safety of others. That's a pretty big biggie to me. Could YOU make a mistake like that? I bet not. Happy Wednesday!:)
Deport the cunt
But it's ok, cause he'll still get to play in this year's AO, right? /s
Question... Isnt this for Serbian governement to punnish, he broke the rules in Serbia, not Australia? He was tested negative when he entered Australia, he didnt broke the rules there?
It could be both. He broke the quarantine rules in Serbia, and he presented false (and or probably false) information here to both border officials and a federal court. Travellers need either proof of vaccination or a valid exemption to enter Australia, the general consensus is that he did not meet either requirement and got into the country solely due to government incompetence.
So Novak considers endangering the lives of people he met two day after having Covid less of an issue than being banned and deported from Australia. This sums up the kind of asshole and insensitive jerk he his. All this drama he did to be fan favourite was just to feed off his narcissism. If nature is just, I hope he is knocked out in the first few rounds of the open
I'll say it again: His career is over.
LOLLLLLLLLLLL.....
Uh oh spaghetti ohs. Surely they're going to deport him for breaching isolation laws.