Defending Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic could be deported from the country as early as today after inconsistencies between sworn evidence and social media posts emerged.
The world number one's hopes of taking part in the Melbourne grand slam are hanging by a thread as more questions are raised about his visa application and Covid-19 vaccine exemption.
The federal government is expected to announced on Thursday whether it will launch a a renewed bid to deport the 20-grand slam winner.
A discrepancy in dates has sparked calls for urgent clarification after Djokovic admitted to lying on his Australian entry declaration and doing an interview and photo shoot with a French newspaper while infected with Covid last month.
Novak Djokovic (pictured on Wednesday) may still be deported from the country before the Australian Open gets underway next week
Sources have told the Herald Sun senior figures believe they should fight for the integrity of the border policy, regardless of the chances of being successful.
They added the government is prepared to cop a global backlash as launching a case for Djokovic to be deported would be consistent with 'ongoing efforts to control the spread of Covid'.
The penalty for giving false evidence under the Crimes Act is a five-year jail.
Meanwhile, the French journalist who interviewed Djokovic not knowing he has tested positive has revealed he was instructed not to ask him about his vaccination status as it was a 'very sensitive' subject.
Franck Ramella from French publication L'Equipe spoke with Djokovic in Belgrade on December 18, two days after the tennis star says he tested positive for Covid-19.
'The instructions were clear — no questions about vaccination,' Ramella wrote on Wednesday.
'So we didn't ask him if he had made efforts to get tested. If we had asked him, what would have been the point?'
Novak Djokovic (pictured with wife Jelena) broke his silence over the visa sage to issue a lengthy Instagram statement to clarify 'misinformation'
Ramella added the L'Equipe photographer asked Djokovic to remove his mask for five minutes during the interview, but he refused.
The player did later pose without a mask for a photo.
Ramella said he only learned 'three weeks later' that Djokovic had tested positive but that he himself had tested negative after the interview.
Meanwhile, top Serbian tennis coach and Djokovic's mentor Bogdan Obradovic has leapt to the defence of the tennis star over the discrepancies regarding his travel declaration form, which he says was due to human error.
'This is just a human mistake, Novak is a human being,' Obradovic told Sunrise on Thursday.
'The people who are doing it for him, they made the mistake, but Novak said' I made a mistake.'
'What can I say? This is a human mistake, everyone can make that mistake.'
'You also know that all about paperwork that we have for this country for Visa, you are not reading that much focus on that because you want just to get into the country, and do the job that you are supposed to do and that is to plau'.
'He was focused on how to win his 10th title at the Australian Open, not focused on visa issues.'
Franck Ramella (pictured) from French publication L'Equipe has broken his silence over his interview with Novak Djokovic while the world number one was infected with Covid last month
Discrepancies emerged after Djokovic issued a lengthy Instagram statement on Wednesday to clarify 'misinformation' about his movements while positive with Covid last month.
'I want to address the continuing misinformation about my activities and attendance at events in December in the lead-up to my positive Covid test result,' it began.
'I want to emphasise that I have tried very hard to ensure the safety of everyone and my compliance with testing obligations.'
He admitted doing a interview and photo shoot L'Equipe while infected with Covid-10 as it was a long standing commitment.
'I cancelled all other events except for the L'Equipe interview,' Djokovic said.
'I felt obliged to go ahead and conduct the L'Équipe interview as I didn't want to let the journalist down, but did ensure I socially distanced and wore a mask except when my photograph was taken.'
Novak Djokovic (pictured) hopes to remain on Australia to win his 10th Melbourne grand slam
He also addressed the 'human errors' on his travel declaration upon arrival in Australia and has since provided additional information to authorities.
'This was submitted by my support team on my behalf - as I told immigration officials on my arrival - and my agent sincerely apologises for the administrative mistake in ticking the incorrect box about my previous travel before coming to Australia,' Djokovic continued.
'This was a human error and certainly not deliberate. We are living in challenging times in a global pandemic and sometimes these mistakes can occur. Today, my team has provided additional information to the Australian government to clarify this 'matter.'
I want to address the continuing misinformation about my activities and attendance at events in December in the lead-up to my positive Covid test result.
This is misinformation which needs to be corrected, particularly in the interest of alleviating broader concern in the community about my presence in Australia, and to address matters which are very hurtful and concerning to my family.
I want to emphasise that I have tried very hard to ensure the safety of everyone and my compliance with testing obligations.
I attended a basketball game in Belgrade on 14 December after which it was reported that a number of people tested positive to Covid-19.
Despite having no Covid symptoms, I took a rapid antigen test on 16 December which was negative, and out of an abundance of caution, also took an official and approved PCR test on that same day.
The next day I attended a tennis event in Belgrade to present awards to children and took a rapid antigen test before going to the event, and it was negative.
I was asymptomatic and felt good, and I had not received the notification of a positive PCR test until after that event.
The next day, on 18 December I was at my tennis centre in Belgrade to fulfil a long-standing commitment for a L'Équipe interview and photoshoot. I cancelled all other events except for the L'Equipe interview.
I felt obliged to go ahead and conduct the L'Équipe interview as I didn't want to let the journalist down, but did ensure I socially distanced and wore a mask except when my photograph was taken.
Djokovic is pictured during a training session at Melbourne Park on Wednesday.
When I went home after the interview to isolate for the required period, on reflection, this was an error of judgment and I accept that I should have rescheduled this commitment.
On the issue of my travel declaration, this was submitted by my support team on my behalf - as I told immigration officials on my arrival - and my agent sincerely apologises for the administrative mistake in ticking the incorrect box about my previous travel before coming to Australia.
This was a human error and certainly not deliberate. We are living in challenging times in a global pandemic and sometimes these mistakes can occur. Today, my team has provided additional information to the Australian government to clarify this matter.
While I felt it was important to address and clarify misinformation I will not be making any further comment out of utmost respect for the Australian government and their authorities and the current process.
It was always an honour and a privilege to play in the Australian Open. The Australian Open is much-loved by players, fans and the community, not just in Victoria and in Australia but around the globe, and I just want to have the opportunity to compete against the best players in the world and perform before one of the best crowds in the world.
Advertisement
By Padraig Collins and Levi Parsons for Daily Mail Australia
Novak Djokovic could be arrested on a tennis court by armed Border Force officers in front of the world's media if his visa was to be cancelled again, a high ranking former immigration department official has warned.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion is coming under increasing scrutiny, days after winning a court case which overruled a Border Force decision to cancel his visa amid uncertainties over a Covid vaccine exemption.
His appearance at the Australian Open is now becoming more unlikely by the hour, as questions are raised about alleged inconsistencies in a recent statement about his previous Covid infection - which was the basis of his exemption - as well as an error on his border declaration form.
'The cancellation notice (would be) taken by Australian Border Force (officers) who usually dress in very, very dark uniforms and often carry guns turning up to Mr Djokovic's hotel or on the tennis court,' Abul Rizvi, a former Immigration Department Deputy Secretary, said on Wednesday night.
The decision on whether to revoke Djokovic's visa again was further delayed on Wednesday after his team produced 'lengthy' submissions as well as documents supporting his case - but a final call is due to be made on Thursday.
Scroll down for video
Novak Djokovic's moments in the weeks before he flew to Australia, after testing positive to Covid on December 16, are coming under increasing scrutiny (pictured, the tennis champion at a training session in Melbourne on Wednesday)
It is understood the government is still preparing a case to revoke his visa and seek deportation, with a source telling the Herald Sun letting him stay in Australia could set a 'dangerous precedent'.
Officials are said to be willing to suffer international backlash over the issue, as well as potentially violent scenes by supporters in Melbourne, as a decision to let him stay could go against 'ongoing efforts to control the spread of
