Novak Djokovic’s family has launched an extraordinary attack on Scott Morrison as they protest the tennis star’s treatment in Australia.
Novak Djokovic is a victim of a “political witch hunt” claimed Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic as fans in Belgrade and family members rallied in support of the embattled tennis star after Australian authorities cancelled his entry visa.
The world No. 1’s lawyers are appealing the decision which, if it fails, would see him deported ahead of the Australian Open.
Watch Tennis Live with beIN SPORTS on Kayo. Live Coverage of ATP + WTA Tour Tournaments including Every Finals Match. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial >
The vaccine-sceptic Djokovic was detained on arrival at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport having failed to “provide appropriate evidence” of double vaccination or a medical exemption.
Djokovic had jetted into Melbourne on Wednesday having been granted a medical exemption by the Australian Open organisers. He was hoping to defend his Australian Open crown and claim an unprecedented 21st grand slam title.
Vucic, though, claimed Djokovic was being hounded as other tennis players had been permitted to enter Australia with medical exemptions.
“What is not fair-play is the political witch hunt (being conducted against Novak), by everybody including the Australian Prime Minister pretending that the rules apply to all,” Vucic told the media.
Vucic said the Australian ambassador had been contacted twice by Serbian authorities and Serbia’s Prime Minister Ana Brnabic will be in touch with a senior member of Australia’s Home Affairs department.
The Serbians will ask the Australian authorities that at the very least Djokovic can stay, while his appeal is heard, in the house in Melbourne he had rented for the Australian Open (which runs from January 17 to January 30) and not in the hotel he has been sent to.
“I fear that this relentless political pursuit of Novak will continue until the moment they can prove something, because when you cannot defeat somebody then you turn to these type of things,” said Vucic.
‘We are humans, you are not’
In the Serbian capital Belgrade, Djokovic’s father Srdjan led a demonstration alongside a few hundred others in front of the country’s parliament as Morrison came under further attack.
“We are not calling for violence … only for support” for Novak, Srdjan shouted into a megaphone, as the crowd waved Serbian flags and homemade signs, including a banner that read: “They are afraid of the best, stop corona fascism.”
“They’re keeping him in captivity. They’re stomping all over Novak to stomp all over Serbia and Serbian people,” Srdjan added.
“Morrison and his like have dared attack Novak to bring Serbia to its knees. Serbia has always shown that he comes from a proud nation.
“This has nothing to do with sports, this is a political agenda. Novak is the best player and the best athlete in the world, but several hundred million people from the West can’t stomach that.
“You, famous Prime Minister of the faraway naturally beautiful country, are behaving according to your own principles, which have nothing to do with us and our principles.
“We are humans, and you, sir, are not.
“Jesus was crucified on the cross … but he is still alive among us. They are trying to crucify and belittle Novak and throw him to his knees.
“We are part of the freedom-loving world, more than seven billion of us cannot be the prisoners of these … the very name says it all about their Prime Minister, Scott Morrison (“Skot” is a derogatory word in Serbian).”
Srdjan also read out a message to the crowd he said was from Djokovic, which read: “God sees everything. Moral and ethics as the greatest ideals are the shining stars towards spiritual ascension. My grace is spiritual and theirs is material wealth.”
Djokovic’s mother Dijana lashed out too, saying: “I feel terrible since yesterday, the last 24 hours. They are keeping him like a prisoner. It’s just not fair. It’s not human.
“I just hope he will be strong as we are trying also to be very strong to give him some energy to keep on going. I hope that he will win.”
Djokovic’s brother Djordje also weighed in, calling the situation the “greatest sporting and diplomatic scandal”.
“He had the same document as several tennis players who are already in Australia,” Djordje said. “Novak and his team had no way of contacting federal authorities.
“The only way to make contact was via Tennis Australia, as they have a partner relationship with the authorities. Novak didn’t apply, Tennis Australia did.
“He was taken to a migrant hotel to a dirty room without any belongings, which he was told would be returned to him upon his return to Europe.
“He was treated like a criminal while he is a healthy and decent man and a sportsman who has not endangered anyone’s life and has not committed any federal or legal offence.”
Elsewhere in the Serbian capital, reactions to the fiasco appeared to be more mixed.
“They do not let in their country people from other continents who have mud on their shoes let alone someone who is not vaccinated against a contagious disease,” Mihailo Kljajic, a 29-year-old flight attendant, told AFP.
“I don’t know what he expected would happen,” he added.
Others were appalled by the situation.
“It is chaotic, crazy, disgusting,” said Branka Vuksanovic, a pensioner.
Originally published as ‘You are not human’: Djokovic’s family launches vicious attack on Scott Morrison
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
