Anyone for Tennis - Djokovic situation discussion time ?

dsio · Jan 9, 2022

Going to lock this one temporarily since it’s drifted a long way from the Novak situation it was originally about but we’ll unlock it after the verdict comes down and see whether he gets to stay and play, or whether @STANDY and his mates get to stick him, his entourage, and his personal chef back on a jet back home.

dsio · Jan 9, 2022

There’s a livestream here:

dsio · Jan 10, 2022

Sounds like the judge is ruling in his favor, with costs too. Government lawyer also flagged to the judge that the government minister may shit-can the visa anyway.

If the minister does use executive privilege to deport him regardless of the judge’s ruling, he will be banned from Australia 3 years.

So we find out in 30 minutes whether that happens or not.

Shabbaz · Jan 10, 2022

Interesting development. Djokovic won his case. Would be interesting to know on what grounds.

Omegafanman · Jan 10, 2022

Tennis star Novak Djokovic has won a court battle challenging the cancellation of his Australian visa, in a case that has drawn global attention
The judge Anthony Kelly agreed with Djokovic’s lawyers who argued that border officials failed to give valid notice of the intention to cancel the visa
But the saga may not be over just yet - Australia's immigration minister is considering using his power to re-cancel the visa
The government insists that Djokovic's recent Covid infection does not make him eligible for an exemption from entry rules
The Australian Open begins on 17 January and if Djokovic wins, he will become the most successful men's player in history

Meanwhile also in the last few hours:-

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-59927306
The boss of one of London's busiest hospitals has said he is worried about losing staff when new rules come in requiring them to be vaccinated.

From April, front-line NHS staff in England will need to have the Covid jab - or will be moved to another role.

King's College Hospital chief Clive Kay said his job was to encourage workers to get jabbed - and 10% of his 14,000 staff were still unvaccinated.

My views from all the above is mandates and bans do not work and are no longer necessary given the statistics and evidence. Normally you go through this process of informed consent, where you weigh up as a doctor with the patient, the risks the benefits and that person's personal preference. We need to get back to that IMHO. I also think unless being lambasted by politicians, press, public and players improves his game, Djokovic should withdraw now and sit this out. That is what I am going to do ;0)

Omegafanman · Jan 10, 2022

Archer
His example actually helps make your point...

I was in the room - all gets a bit third party here in the ‘community’

Omegafanman · Jan 10, 2022

Foo2rama
I’m glad you found one doctor that agrees with you. Why do you reject the hundreds and hundreds of doctors that disagree with him and have pleaded on video as they are overworked and sick of watching people die? Why are all of them wrong?

I don’t think it is a black and white binary question like that - early on there was a benefit to a one stop shop message. Now the time is coming to take a more nuanced view based on all the evidence. The NHS employees a lot of people so even if 10% are unhappy that is a big number / they are already short staffed. Tennis can afford to loose one number one so that is less of a worry for me ;0) anyway I will leave you guys to discuss it as I am not helping the debate and do not want the thread deleted.

JimInOz · Jan 10, 2022

Some poor Border Force officer is probably getting reamed for jumping the gun on the visa cancellation instead of waiting another 45 minutes.

I hope the reaming process proceeds up the chain of command (from where the "big decisions" would have been handed down).

Edit: Updated to add emphasis.

dsio · Jan 10, 2022

All a bit chaotic now, apparently his father told the press in Serbia that he’s been arrested again by the AFP, but his brother is telling other media that he’s at his lawyers offices waiting to find out if he’s getting deported.

makaria indica · Jan 10, 2022

I have just read the full ABF interview transcript, pretty poor form from them.
Be interesting to see how the federal immigration minister plays this..... I cant see him exercising his right to revoke Novak"s visa given he will be banned from AU for 3 years as a result, the other side is the pressure this precedent sets in terms of allowing non vaccinated people into Au given the stance already communicated....

No doubt "Scotty from Marketing" will poll a focus group to determine his next step...

S.H. · Jan 10, 2022

For me it is a good example of how a little bad faith at first can in the end produce a nice, complex and wide ranging sh*tshow involving a lot of people who have otherwise better things to do.

I wonder how Novak's sponsors will react to this situation.

dsio · Jan 10, 2022

makaria indica
I have just read the full ABF interview transcript, pretty poor form from them.
Be interesting to see how the federal immigration minister plays this..... I cant see him exercising his right to revoke Novak"s visa given he will be banned from AU for 3 years as a result, the other side is the pressure this precedent sets in terms of allowing non vaccinated people into Au given the stance already communicated....

No doubt "Scotty from Marketing" will poll a focus group to determine his next step...

I’m guessing it’ll be Karen Andrews as home affairs minister that makes the call but it’s somewhat telling that they already flagged it to the judge during the hearing.

As far as a precedent set, the only thing the judge really ruled on was the fact that he was given until 8:30am to make his case and had his visa cancelled before that deadline implying ABF jumped the gun by a few minutes which is something they’ll be careful not to repeat.

Omegafanman · Jan 10, 2022

dsio
I’m guessing it’ll be Karen Andrews as home affairs minister that makes the call but it’s somewhat telling that they already flagged it to the judge during the hearing.

As far as a precedent set, the only thing the judge really ruled on was the fact that he was given until 8:30am to make his case and had his visa cancelled before that deadline implying ABF jumped the gun by a few minutes which is something they’ll be careful not to repeat.

Looks like they did not want to risk him talking to his legal team or Tennis Australia.....

Djokovic then asked if he could have until 8am to have a rest and to contact his advisers, to which the Border Force official said, according to court documents: "That's absolutely fine, I have spoken with my supervisors and they're more than happy to allow you have to rest [sic]."

Another conversation was held about 6am, Djokovic claims, where he was told he could rest until 8.30am. It was at this stage Djokovic went to sleep.

His airport nap was short-lived. Djokovic claimed in the documents he was woken up a short time later by two supervisors who were pressuring him into accepting their decision to revoke his visa before he was able to talk to his legal team or Tennis Australia officials.

He ultimately relented, and by 7.42am he was notified of the cancellation of his visa. Djokovic was later sent to a local hotel best known for immigrant detentions, where he remains.

In other news - Nick Kyrgios is in huge doubt for the Australian Open after contracting Covid-19 just a week out from the season-opening major.

LesXL · Jan 10, 2022

Djokovic said he knew of his Covid-positive test result on December 16 in a sworn affidavit published by the Federal court... And knowingly then went to public events without mask and amongst children.

I'm sorry, but that is how low this guy is... And I'm still not convinced that his COVID contamination was "accidental". It came very handy and timely.

I'm sure those can be arguments could be put forward, to doubt he would follow rules correctly.

But as someone wrote previously, it would also be interesting to hear the boos every time he plays!

Edit: Following on the BBC news website, "He told the interviewer that he tested positive for Covid twice - in June 2020 and on 16 December 2021. Copies of his positive PCR tests were provided to the interviewer - one was issued on the 16 December 2021, a day before Djokovic appeared at public events without a mask."

His COVID infection are also very nicely timed giving him 6 months flexibility to travel each time, covering nicely a calendar year. You got to give it to him, his medical staff put a good infection protocol for him to follow.

Archer · Jan 10, 2022

dsio
I’m guessing it’ll be Karen Andrews as home affairs minister that makes the call but it’s somewhat telling that they already flagged it to the judge during the hearing.

As far as a precedent set, the only thing the judge really ruled on was the fact that he was given until 8:30am to make his case and had his visa cancelled before that deadline implying ABF jumped the gun by a few minutes which is something they’ll be careful not to repeat.

In the end he didn't "win" on the merits of the covid infection exempting him from vaccination, but on the time issue. I think this opens up a window for the government to maintain their stance and refuse him entry this time, while giving him a pass on the three year ban.

Archer · Jan 10, 2022

texasmade
Since when did tennis become a team sport?

Since at least 1900...when the Davis Cup was founded.

Davis Cup - Wikipedia

Wryfox · Jan 10, 2022

I'd like to ask the Australia folks to weigh in...I just read an article here in US that stated that the public opinion in Australia is overwhelmingly negative towards Djokovic and want him to leave. Is this really true? Vaccine status or just don't like him? Curious.....

I ask because if he stays and the country doesn't want him there, the Open will be a real circus and terrible distraction to other players, won't it?

dsio · Jan 10, 2022

Wryfox
I'd like to ask the Australia folks to weigh in...I just read an article here in US that stated that the public opinion in Australia is overwhelmingly negative towards Djokovic and want him to leave. Is this really true? Vaccine status or just don't like him? Curious.....

I ask because if he stays and the country doesn't want him there, the Open will be a real circus and terrible distraction to other players, won't it?

Negativity towards him is relatively high, for a variety of reasons, after the verdict his supporters decided to riot and start attacking police, then smashed up a car belonging to one of the lawyers at the firm he hired for no real reason. So that’s not really making him more endearing either.

Vercingetorix · Jan 10, 2022

dsio
Negativity towards him is relatively high, for a variety of reasons, after the verdict his supporters decided to riot and start attacking police, then smashed up a car belonging to one of the lawyers at the firm he hired for no real reason. So that’s not really making him more endearing either.

Sounds like where I’m from. The car bit anyways.

padders · Jan 10, 2022

This business about testing positive on Dec 16th seems awfully convenient I would want some scrutiny on that for a start. The fact he was out in public the day after when apparently positive and therefore putting others at risk suggest to me he needs sending back from whence he came regardless of any court decision since those are not the actions of a sensible human being.