By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday January 9, 2022
Judge A. Kelly determined Novak Djokovic's passport cancellation "unreasonable" and ordered he be released from detention.
Photo Source
Novak Djokovic’s appeal against his Australian visa cancellation has been rescinded, setting the World No.1 free to play the 2022 Australian Open, but not without a looming caveat: reportedly the Australian government is considering their right to use a personal power to cancel his visa.
After a day-long hearing, presided over by Judge A. Kelly, it was determined that the decision to cancel Djokovic’s decision was “unreasonable.” Judge Kelly had questioned the approach of the immigration officers that detained Djokovic at Tullamarine airport for eight hours, and their choice of not allowing him the opportunity to make proper contact with his counsel and Tennis Australia.
“What more could this man have done?” the judge asked at one point.
Christopher Tran, representing Australian Home Affairs, make his remarks after Djokovic’s team, headed by Nicolas Wood, laid out their case.
During the hearing there were several adjournments and even a delay for technical difficulties as the court struggled to make its broadcast of the hearing available to the public.
Judge Kelly ordered that Djokovic’s passport and all his personal belonging be returned to him and that the Australian government foot the bill for his stay at the Park Hotel in Melbourne over the last few days.
There is still some suspense hanging over this controversy, as Tran’s last remarks hinted that Djokovic could still be deported by the “personal power” of Australia’s immigration minister, and if he was, it could mean that he would be banned from Australia for three years.
But nothing has been done yet.