Novak Djokovic’s dad is not going to be courtside for his son’s Australian Open semi-final towards Tommy Paul on Friday evening within the fallout to posing with pro-Putin demonstrators earlier within the week.
The event has been tossed into scandal after police detained 4 males outdoors Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday evening following Djokovic’s quarter-final win over Russian Andrey Rublev.
Spectators inside Melbourne Park have been seen with pro-war indicators and flags that includes the face of Putin as they chanted outdoors the stadium.
A video posted on YouTube now seems to point out Djokovic’s dad, Srdjan, posing with a bunch of males who have been additionally seen waving the Russian flags which have been banned from the Australian Open.
Newsagency inews.co.uk first reported the video which seems to point out Srdjan telling one of many demonstrators “Long live the Russians” in a free translation.
Those translations have been corrected by Serbian journalist @ozmo_sasa who famous that Srdjan stated “Živeli, ljudi”, which means “cheers, guys”.
In a video posted on the YouTube channel Aussie Cossack, the daddy of the nine-time Australian Open champion was seen alongside a person who was sporting a T-shirt that prominently featured the pro-war ‘Z’ image.
The video additionally exhibits that the group of Russian activists was in a position to stage its demonstration for an prolonged time frame earlier than safety intervened.
Tennis Australia earlier confirmed 4 spectators have been detained by police and have been additional questioned.
An announcement from Victoria Police has confirmed all 4 males have been evicted from the occasion.
But slightly than faux like nothing occurred, Srdjan will sit out his sons semi-final, releasing a press release on Friday.
“I am here to support my son only,” the assertion learn. “I had no intention of causing such headlines or disruption.
“I was outside with Novak’s fans as I have done after all of my son’s matches to celebrate his wins and take pictures with them. I had no intention of being caught up in this.
“My family has lived through the horror of war, and we wish only for peace.
“So there is no disruption to tonight’s semi-final for my son or for the other player, I have chosen to watch from home.
“I wish for a great match and will be cheering for my son, as always.”
The assertion additionally stated Novak didn’t want to make any feedback.
The photographs sparked loads of backlash together with from Nine commentator Sam Smith who stated Novak would “devastated” by the photographs.
Former Aussie tennis star turned Victorian member of parliament Sam Groth tweeted: “Acts of incitement have no place in our state and no place at our major events.
“The Australian Open must be a welcoming, safe and inclusive event for all, not an opportunity to express a harmful and offensive agenda or deliberately intimidate others.
“Melbourne and Victoria are on the world’s stage and our reputation as a major events capital is on the line. It isn’t good enough for the State Government to avoid responsibility and buck pass to others.
“The State Government and event organisers must today explain what actions they are taking to put an end to these unacceptable behaviours.”
Former Ukrainian tennis star Alexander Dolgopolov referred to as for the supporters, together with Djokovic’s dad to be banned over the drama.
“Absolutely disgusting. Politics should be kept out of sports they said. These people have absolutely no business in being on tennis tournaments, including @DjokerNole father, if they openly praise a genocidal regime,” he wrote.
Even the prime minister and opposition chief condemned the scenes.
Source: www.news.com.au
