Post

In Australia, Djokovic Knew the Rules (José Ignacio Soler, Venezuela, 01/23/22 4:05 am)

I have read David Duggan's post about Novak Djokovic's melodrama at the Australian Open. As I am a tennis fan and also a mediocre amateur player, I feel compelled to comment on it.

Obviously I have great admiration for Djokovic as an athlete, but in terms of his personality and especially his behavior during this circus, I can't feel sympathy for him. I've felt the same way in the past with other athletes, for example with Diego Maradona, an exceptional soccer player, but with atrocious behavior in his private life, as well as with other prominent public figures. In general it is difficult to separate the private and the public, but when one interferes with the other it is usually disappointing. Exemplary behavior should be expected of them.

In Djokovic's case, he knew in advance the rules to enter the country, which was to be vaccinated against Covid. Although his personal rejection of vaccines should be respected, the rules and regulations of the recipient country must above all be followed, no matter how absurd they may seem to you.

His rude attempt to manipulate and force his entry into the country, and his participation in the tournament, is an arrogant and disrespectful attitude. Of course there were many mistakes in the whole incident, but it would be absurd to deny that the main responsibility is his. Possibly he lied about having suffered from Covid, exhibiting a positive PCR test of uncertain result, and later participating in public events, or lying on the application form about having visited other countries, all of which led to a judicial and administrative process full of contradictions and mistakes on the part of the Australian administration.

To conclude, I disagree with David. It seems right to me that Djokovic has been expelled from the country and the tournament, whose rules, even if they seem excessive or absurd, above all must be respected. All citizens and visitors must do the same, being public figures or prominent athletes.

JE comments:  Agreed.  Justice should be blind to matters of fame and social status.  Way too often this is not the case.  WAISer Paul Pitlick is of the same view.  Read on...

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