Djokovic brings the Kosovo conflict to Roland Garros and causes controversy

days after invasion from Ukraine will land on Roland Garros, for rejecting the Ukrainian Marta Kostjuk to greet his Belarusian rival Arina Sabalenka, Serbian novice Djokovic brought to Grand Slam of clay tense situation that exists in Kosovo.

«Kosovo is the heart of Serbia! stop the violence»Written by a player on the camera that the tournament makes available to winners on center court to send a message at the end of their matches. A clear reference to the growing tension in the territory that declared its independence, which is not recognized by many countries, and where the Serbian minority does not recognize the rule of Pristina.

That’s the problem Roland Garros rules prohibit political messages on the courtso the tournament director, Amelie Mauresmo, He assured that they were studying the situation. «Let’s see, talk to him to find out what he really meant. Let’s not rush,” the former world number 1 said on French public television.

The situation could be compromised for a tournament against such an influential player as Djokovic, currently number 3 in the rankings, who is looking for his third crown in Paris and thus completes 23, which would put him in the position of tennis player with the greatest in history, surpassing by one the Spaniard Rafael Nadal.

At the press conference that followed, Đoković tried to avoid controversy, but noted that “as the son of a person born in Kosovo, there is an additional responsibility to support the people and all of Serbia.”. It is not the first time that the tennis player has spoken out against the independence of that territory. In 2008, when Pristina declared it, Djokovic said he was going through “one of the worst moments” in the country’s history and assured: “We are willing to defend what belongs to us.”

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After what happened, the Kosovo Tennis Federation announced yesterday that it will officially request that the Serbian player be punished for his message. “The ITF is recognized by the International Olympic Committee. We have to react. Tomorrow [por hoy] we will send an official petition to have Đoković charged and punished. We will ask the ITF, ATP and the French Tennis Federation,” Jeton Hadergjonaj, president of the Kosovo Federation, told PA Media.

Hadergjonaj explained that Đoković has something to do with the Kosovo area and that it is understandable that he would announce himself, but he pointed out that this affects the conflict. «For a public figure like him, in this big event, giving this kind of message is not very helpful.“, he added.

It is not the first time that the tennis player has made actions that support Serbia at this moment, when tensions in these areas are growing again. “A month ago, at a basketball match in Belgrade, everyone in the stadium chanted ‘Kosovo is Serbia’. He did not shout, but made signs with his hands in support of this.“, argued the manager.

Djokovic quickly admitted that, despite the criticism, he would do it again since he is “against” wars and “all kinds of conflicts”. “Our people were expelled from the municipalities. It’s the least I can do. As a public figure, I feel an obligation to support our people and the whole of Serbia,” said the tennis player.

Meanwhile, the French Tennis Federation denied it would rule over the rules Grand Slam they do not prohibit political statements from players. However, the French Minister of Sports still spoke, Amélie Oudéa-Caster. This criticized the tennis player’s political message this morning and said that it “does not have to be repeated”.

«It was obviously not appropriate», said Oudéa-Castéra in an interview for a French public channel French 2 to the question about the procedure of the Serbian athlete. The French minister explained that the tournament director Amélie Mauresmo spoke with the player’s environment, who in the past had already publicly expressed his political position regarding Kosovo, and insisted that “it does not have to be repeated because there is a principle of neutrality” in the competition.

In his opinion, Djokovic’s action was “militant” and “very political”, and therefore he should not demonstrate during the competition.

What is happening in Kosovo?

The situation in Kosovo has come to the fore again in recent days due to the sudden increase in tension between the majority Albanian authorities and the Serbian minority, supported by Belgrade, due to the election of mayors in four northern municipalities.

In those municipalities, where Serbs are the majority, mayors were elected from among the Albanian community in elections that the former boycotted, in which participation was barely 3 percent, and the situation degenerated into violent clashes with dozens of injuries.