Kevin Pietersen believes Novak Djokovic is owed an apology from the Australian government following a major development surrounding the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine.
The Anglo-Swedish vaccine producer withdrew global distribution of the vaccine on Tuesday, after admitting that it can cause potentially fatal side effects.
AstraZeneca admitted last week that the vaccine, sold under the name Vaxzevria, can cause fatal blood clots and low platelet counts.
A leading Australian professor has since insisted that avoiding that particular blow caused more deaths than it saved, but former England cricket star Pietersen took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to enjoy the latest development.
Pietersen, who sparked controversy last month after attacking London mayor Sadiq Khan by taking an expensive watch and his wedding ring before a trip to the British capital, said Australia owed the tennis superstar an apology. Djokovic.
Kevin Pietersen believes Novak Djokovic is owed an apology from Australia
The tennis superstar was deported from Australia in January 2022 due to vaccine rules
Djokovic was forced to leave Australia just days before his on-court appearance as the defending Australian Open champion in January 2022 because he entered the country unvaccinated during pandemic border restrictions.
“It’s time for every person (who criticized) and the Australian government to now apologize to Novak Djokovic,” Pietersen tweeted on Wednesday.
‘I think that would be appropriate since he went through HELL! Looks like he was onto something…’
Reflecting on that turbulent episode, Djokovic told CBS last December: “I was basically declared the villain of the world.”
The saga began when two medical panels and Tennis Australia granted Djokovic an exemption from strict vaccination rules to play at the Australian Open. That exemption, based on evidence that he recently recovered from COVID-19, apparently allowed him to receive a visa to enter Australia. But upon his arrival, border officials said the exemption was invalid and decided to deport him.
The back-and-forth that followed raised questions about whether Djokovic received unfair special treatment or was unfairly singled out due to his celebrity status and saw many complain that the protracted battle at least made Australia look bad.
Djokovic has since opened up about his ordeal. He has since returned to Australia and competed
A court initially ruled on procedural grounds that Djokovic could stay, but then Immigration Minister Alex Hawke, who has wide powers, later decided to deport him. In addition to not being vaccinated against the coronavirus, Djokovic is an outspoken vaccine skeptic and the government said his presence could spark anti-vaccine sentiments.
Three judges of the Federal Court unanimously confirmed the decision of the Minister of Immigration.
Djokovic admitted that, although he has often not been the crowd’s favorite, what happened to him in Australia was a different level of antagonism.
“I had that kind of experience on the tennis court, with crowds that maybe weren’t cheering me on, but I’d never had this particular experience before in my life,” he said.
Interviewer Jon Wertheim asked Djokovic if he “misinterpreted” the mood of the Australian public, who “held a strong opinion of vaccination” and disliked the Serbian star’s perceived “exceptionalism.”
“It wasn’t up to me to read anyone,” Djokovic said.
“I got permission to enter the country and, of course, it escalated to the highest of the highest levels globally.”
Liberal Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Djokovic did not comply with ‘the rules’ that to enter Australia ‘you either have to be vaccinated or have a valid medical exemption and show evidence of that.’
However, in his court case, Hawke did not dispute that Djokovic’s medical exemption could have been valid, but instead based his argument on the possibility that it “may pose a health risk” by fueling “anti-vaccine sentiment.”
Djokovic flatly rejected the ‘anti-vax’ label.
‘I am not anti-vaccines. No, I’m pro pro vax,” she told Wertheim as he explained that he believed it was up to the individual.
“I’m in favor of the freedom to choose,” Djokovic said.
