Channel Seven lash out at leaker of Rebecca Maddern Novak Djokovic rant with ...

Furious Channel Seven bosses are racing to track down the person responsible for leaking 'illegal' footage of two of their presenters badmouthing Novak Djokovic - amid claims a tell-tale sign in the video could give the leaker away. 

Seven News Melbourne presenters Rebecca Maddern and Mike Amor were caught criticising the world No.1 amid his visa debacle in a hot mic rant that was later leaked online.

Their expletive-laden rant, which appears to have taken place as they prepared to present the station's 6pm news program, included Maddern saying: 'whatever way you look at it, Novak Djokovic is a lying, sneaky, a***hole.' 

'He got a bullshit f*****g excuse and then fell over his own f*****g lies. It's just what happens, right, that's what happened,' Amor responded.

His co-host said that there were multiple errors made in the process of cancelling and then reinstating Djokovic's visa to play at the Australian Open.

Djokovic had landed in Australia with a medical exemption from vaccination on the basis he had tested positive to Covid-19 on December 16 but was detained for five days when border force officials denied the exemption.

He's since been released from detention but it is still unclear if he will be able to play in the Australian Open beginning on January 17. 

'It is unfortunate that everyone stuffed up around him,' Maddern said.

'I don't think anything was gained by putting him in (an) immigration hotel.'

Both presenters then agreed that Djokovic was 'going to get away with it'.  

In a statement on Wednesday morning, Craig McPherson, Seven's Director of News and Public Affairs, said the person responsible for leaking the 'private conversation' would be dealt with.

'The illegal recording was of a private conversation between two colleagues,' he said.

'It was an underhanded, cowardly act in breach of the Victorian Listening Devices legislation the perpetrator of which will be accordingly dealt with when found.' 

In the wake of the news presenters' comments, Twitter has erupted with many throwing their support behind the pair, while others have speculated leaking the footage was an inside job - or even a publicity stunt, given Maddern only recently began the role.

Entertainment journalist Peter Ford said finding the leaker can be 'narrowed down to the timecode you see in the top right hand corner' of the clip. 

'Not every outlet getting the feed gets this. Also quite possibly it's not within 7 building itself as play out centre, affiliates and others get the feed,' he tweeted.

'It shouldn't have happened and no doubt there will be a witch-hunt. But what's the sin?

'Two experienced journalists having a private conversation about a heated and complex issue - and using language many people in the 'real world' use.'

Hundreds of other Twitter users weighed in, many in agreeance with Maddern and Amor's comments. 

'Rebecca Maddern and Mike Amor staged this — l wonder what they'll have to say about Australian Formula One Grand Prix drivers!!' tweeted another.

'If news presenters are filmed 'behind scenes' in a closed studio, then the footage is not 'leaked' its a PR stunt... But Rebecca Maddern and Mike Amor weren't wrong,' wrote another.

'Honestly, the real Mike Amor and Rebecca Maddern as seen in this video come across very likeable. If it was a marketing stunt, it won me over,' one said.

'I hope Mike Amor and Rebecca Maddern are promoted on the basis of that leaked video,' another tweet read.

'Every Australian needs to stand by Rebecca Maddern and Mike Amor. They are only saying what we - and the rest of the world is thinking.'

Maddern is just one week into her role as the Seven Network's newsreader, having recently said she had landed her dream job.

'It is a job of a lifetime; these opportunities don't come up very often,' she said.

'You only have to look at the main anchors and how long they have been in those roles, so it is not lost on me how lucky I am.'

She added: 'It is a real honour to be leading the team alongside Mike Amor.'

Maddern began working at Seven in 2002, serving as a news reporter on programs such as Seven Afternoon News and Sunrise.

She left Seven in 2016 and immediately signed with Nine.

Maddern confirmed in late October she had walked away from Nine after almost six years at the network. 

It comes after the revelation that Djokovic could face jail after Australia's Border Force launched a fresh investigation into whether the tennis star lied on a travel declaration form before entering the country.

Federal rules on the matter state: 'Giving false or misleading information to the Australian Government is a serious offence. If convicted, the maximum penalty is imprisonment for 12 months.' 

Court documents released as part of the row over Djokovic's visa show his declaration form stated he would not travel to any other countries in the 14 days prior to boarding his flight to Australia on January 4. 

In answer to the question: 'Have you travelled, or will you travel, in the 14 days prior to your flight to Australia?' whoever filled out the form selected 'no'.  

That means the 34-year-old tennis player would have needed to remain in the same country since December 21.

But social media images appear to show that he was in Belgrade, Serbia, on December 25 and then in Marbella, Spain, from December 31 until catching his flight to Australia, via Dubai.

It is not clear whether admitting he had travelled to Spain would have automatically disqualified Djokovic from coming to Australia - however, lying on a travel declaration document is punishable by up to 12 months in jail.

News of the investigation is just the latest twist in the Djokovic border saga which saw him thrown in immigration detention on January 5 when the Australian government ripped up his visa for not being vaccinated.

After overnight questioning at Melbourne airport, border officials decided the exemption was not valid, cancelled his visa and transferred him to a detention centre pending deportation.

However, he was freed by a judge on

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