Serbia Is Demanding Novak Djokovic Gets Moved To A Nicer Hotel
The country said 'the best sportsman in the world' doesn't deserve to be housed in the same hotel as asylum seekers.
Serbia has demanded Novak Djokovic be moved to a nicer hotel in Melbourne while he awaits the outcome of his visa bungle.
The world number one tennis star had his visa cancelled when he couldn't provide the right evidence to prove why he was medically exempt for the Australian Open.
He claimed that he didn't need to be vaccinated against the coronavirus in order to fly to Australia.
However, authorities didn't think his claims stacked up and he's been sent to a quarantine hotel while it's determined when he'll be deported.
As the Serbian player sits in his room, his home country is demanding he get bumped up a few stars.
Serbian Foreign Secretary Nemanja Starovic has posted a statement on the Foreign Affairs Ministry website decrying Djokovic's treatment in Australia
"We expect that the ambassador personally takes action for [him] to be moved to accommodation befitting the best sportsman in the world, not a criminal or an illegal immigrant," Mr Starovic said in the statement.
The tennis player is currently being held at the Park Hotel in Carlton, which the Sydney Morning Herald states also houses several asylum seekers who have been detained there for several years.
Secretary Starovic has called on the Australian Ambassador to Serbia, Daniel Emery, to travel to the foreign office to submit aa verbal protest at what's happened.
The Serbian government simply wants Novak the chance to spend Orthodox Christmas in somewhere nicer.
Djokovic's case will come back to court on Monday to determine whether he will be allowed to stay in the country to defend his Australian Open title or if he will be put on the next plane out of here.
The tennis star's dad has been furious at how Australia has treated his son and said it even amounts to the way Jesus Christ was treated before his death.
Srdjan Djokovic explained at a press conference in Serbia: "What is not fair play is the political witch hunt (being conducted against Djokovic), by everybody including the Australian Prime Minister pretending that the rules apply to all.
"[Novak] met all the required conditions for the entry and participation at the tournament that he would have certainly won.
"Jesus was crucified and endured many things but is still alive among us. Novak is also crucified... the best sportsman and man in the world. He will endure."
His mother, Dijana Djokovic, added: "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."
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Novak Djokovic, Australia
Stewart Perrie