Sports minister: Djokovic should abstain from political messages at French Open

PARIS — French Sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera stated Wednesday that Novak Djokovic‘s political message about Kosovo was “not appropriate” and warned the previous top-ranked Serb participant that he mustn’t do it once more.

Speaking on TV station France 2, Oudea-Castera stated French Open director Amelie Mauresmo spoke with Djokovic and his entourage to insist on the precept of “neutrality” on the sphere of play.

“When it comes to defending human rights and bringing people together around universal values, a sportsperson is free to do so,” she stated. But Oudea-Castera added that Djokovic‘s message was “militant, very political” and “must not be repeated.”

Djokovic has drawn criticism from Kosovo’s tennis federation after providing his ideas on clashes in northern Kosovo between ethnic Serbs and police and NATO peacekeepers.

After a first-round victory in Paris on Monday, Djokovic wrote in Serbian on the lens of a courtside TV digicam: “Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence.”

Kosovo’s tennis federation stated Tuesday that Djokovic’s feedback had been “deplorable” as a result of he was stoking tensions between Serbia and Kosovo.

The International Tennis Federation has not opened a disciplinary case.

“We received a letter from Kosovo which we have answered,” stated ITF president David Haggerty. “But essentially we have forwarded their letter to the French federation, to the French Open, it’s their tournament, and to the ATP who have the rules – the two of them together have the rules and regulations for the event.”

Haggerty added that “athletes have to be careful on their political views. Sports and politics is what we have been talking about and we really want to keep them separate.”

A former province of Serbia, Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence shouldn’t be acknowledged by Belgrade. Ethnic Albanians make up many of the inhabitants, however Kosovo has a restive Serb minority within the north of the nation bordering Serbia.

Djokovic, who has gained 22 Grand Slam titles, is scheduled to play within the second spherical at Roland Garros on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters in Serbian, Djokovic stated Monday that he thought what he wrote on the TV digicam was “the least I could do. I feel responsibility as a public figure … as well as a son of a man who was born in Kosovo.”

Without mentioning Djokovic by identify, French Open organizers indicated in an announcement issued Tuesday that no guidelines had been damaged, saying: “Occasionally, discussions about international news events enter the realm of the tournament, which is understandable.”

Ukrainian participant Elina Svitolina was requested in regards to the subject Wednesday after her second-round victory. She has spoken out about Russia’s invasion of her nation, and stated athletes ought to be capable of specific opinions.

“Well, we are living in the free world, so why not to say your opinion on something? I feel like if you stand for something, you think that this is the way, you should say (it),” stated Svitolina, who additionally acknowledged, “I don’t know the politics of Serbia.”