Novak Djokovic apologizes for travel form error as Australia weighs whether to cancel his visa again
“This was a human error and certainly not deliberate,” he wrote. “We are living in challenging times in a global pandemic and sometimes these mistakes can occur.”
The admission adds to lingering uncertainty over Djokovic’s ability to remain in Australia, which has enforced tight protocols around coronavirus vaccination. Even as the unvaccinated star prepares to defend his Australian Open title, he could be re-detained at any moment and deported.
The saga is a slippery one for the Australian government. Prime Minister Scott Morrison initially embraced the decision to expel Djokovic, appearing to welcome the chance to shift the national discussion away from soaring coronavirus cases to border security ahead of a federal election in a few months. But the tennis player’s successful court appeal was an embarrassment. And a second attempt to deport Djokovic could not only deepen the dispute with Serbia but also undermine one of Australia’s flagship sporting events.
Djokovic’s travel declaration, which was among documents posted publicly on Monday as part of his court hearing, had appeared to conflict with images and eyewitness descriptions of him in Serbia and then Spain shortly before he flew to Australia.
SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES