Melbourne: Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said that Australia has banned legendary tennis player Novak Djokovic from entering the country for three years after his visa cancellation was upheld, reported the Tennis World.
It may be recalled that Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke exercised his power to cancel Djokovic’s visa on Friday. Djokovic lost his Australia visa appeal in the federal court and was deported from the country on Sunday.
“The visa was cancelled by [Immigration] Minister Hawke. That cancellation was upheld by the Federal Court, so as a result of that, he will be banned from entry for three years into the country,” Andrews was quoted as saying by the Tennis World.
Under the immigration laws of Australia, Djokovic cannot be granted another visa for three years. However, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that the tennis player could be allowed entry sooner under the “right circumstances.”
“[The ban] does go over a three-year period, but there is the opportunity for them to return in the right circumstances and that would be considered at the time,” Morrison was quoted as saying in an interview with the Australian radio station 2GB on Monday.
According to Australian law, it provides for compelling or compassionate reasons for the three-year visa ban to be waived, reported BBC.
After he lost the visa appeal, Djokovic was withdrawn from the Australian Open. “I would like to make a brief statement to address the outcomes of today’s Court hearing, I will now be taking some time to rest and recuperate, before making any further comments beyond this,” Djokovic was quoted as saying in a statement.
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