Australian Tennis Federation boss Craig Tiley praised his team's “incredible work” after Novak Djokovic's visa problems in a video released by the Herald Sun newspaper on Saturday.
“There's a lot of finger pointing and a lot of blaming, but I can assure you our team did an incredible job,” Tiley said, speaking to the camera, on what was supposed to be internal communication.
Read alsoDjokovic affair: fires, maggots, Covid ... welcome to the Australian "prison" of the world No. 1
“Unfortunately, over the past two days, there has been a case involving two players, Novak Djokovic in particular,” Mr. Tiley regrets in the video.
"In close collaboration with Novak"
“We understand the current situation and we are working closely with Novak Djokovic and his team, as well as with other people and their team, who are in this situation,” he adds.
The head of Australian Tennis explains that the federation had chosen not to address the issue publicly because of the appeal filed by Djokovic.
Tiley assures, however, that his team did "everything they could do according to all the instructions given to them."
Read also Djokovic affair: how the world No. 1 alienated Australia
The Tennis Federation, host of the Australian Open, has been accused of misleading players about Covid-19 vaccination obligations to enter the country.
In a note sent to players and published by several Australian media, the organization assured that a person who recently contracted Covid-19 could benefit from an exemption from the obligation to be fully vaccinated.
Djokovic's fate fixed on Monday
The Australian government, however, clarified that this provision was only valid for Australian residents, not for foreign citizens wishing to enter the country.
He added that the Department of Health had alerted Tennis Australia as early as November.
VIDEO.
"Let him go": Djokovic supported by his fans in front of his detention center
World No.1 Novak Djokovic had his visa canceled when he arrived in Melbourne on Wednesday.
He has since been in a detention center awaiting the examination of his appeal on Monday.
Another player, Czech doubles specialist Renata Voracova, was placed in the same detention center after also having her visa canceled.
