Novak Djokovic to be deported after losing Australia visa appeal

BoomRadioNG | January 16, 2022

Novak Djokovic is set to be deported from Australia after losing a last-ditch court bid to stay in the country.

Judges rejected the tennis star’s appeal after the government cancelled the unvaccinated player’s visa on “health and good order” grounds.

The decision has ended his hopes of defending his Australian Open title and winning a record 21st Grand Slam.

Djokovic said he was “extremely disappointed” but respected the ruling, made on the eve of his first match.

Novak Djokovic
James Boyes from UK, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

He said in a statement; “I will co-operate with the relevant authorities in relation to my departure from the country,”

During Sunday’s court hearing before a three-judge panel, Djokovic’s defense unsuccessfully argued that the grounds given by the government were “invalid and illogical”.

Chief Justice James Allsop said the federal court’s ruling on Sunday was based on the lawfulness and legality of the immigration minister’s decision, not on the “merits or wisdom of that decision”.

Justice Allsop added that full reasoning for the ruling will be made public in the coming days.

Paul Ayorinde