Scott Morrison says Novak Djokovic has to prove medical exemption or he’ll be “on the next plane home”

Scott Morrison says Novak Djokovic has to prove medical exemption or he’ll be “on the next plane home”

Scott Morrison and Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic, without a doubt one can claim that he is one of the greatest tennis players of all time and the world likes to watch him play. However, the Serbian attracted a lot of criticism when he refused to open up about his vaccination status a little while ago.

In order to play in the first Grand Slam of the season in Australia, he was expected to get jabbed and even the Aussie Authorities were repeatedly claiming that if Novak continues to stay unvaccinated then he might not be allowed to take part in the competition. However, when the news came out that Novak has been allowed to play in the Australian Open even when he is unvaccinated, a lot of people, especially Aussies were furious.

Australian people claimed that it is downright unfair that the locals have to bear the brunt of the lockdown, while privileged players like Djokovic can end up getting away with everything. Issuing a clarification on the whole fiasco, Tennis Australia and the Victorian state government claimed that Djokovic was one of a ‘very few’ successful applicants who sought exemptions from getting vaccinated.

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“There should be no special rules for Novak Djokovic”: Australian PM Scott Morrison

Scott Morrison
Scott Morrison

TA added that Djokovic has not received any special treatment while the applications were being evaluated. “We await his presentation and what evidence he provides us to support that,” Morrison said in a media conference. “If that evidence is insufficient, then he won’t be treated any different to anyone else and he’ll be on the next plane home. There should be no special rules for Novak Djokovic at all. None whatsoever,” he added.

Acting Victorian Sports Minister Jaala Pulford also talked to the media on the issue and said, “I think lots of people in the Victorian community will find this to be a disappointing outcome, but the process is the process; nobody has had special treatment. The process is incredibly robust.”

Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley told reporters, “We completely understand and empathise with people being upset about the fact that Novak has come in because of his statements over the past couple of years around vaccination. However it is ultimately up to him to discuss with the public his condition, if he chooses to do that, and the reasons why he received an exemption.”

It will be interesting to see if Djokovic gets to participate in the Australian Open or gets sent back due to increasing pressure from Australian locals.

Also read: “Wasn’t prepared for it,” Novak Djokovic reveals SHOCKING secrets about the 2021 US Open Final