May 31, (THEWILL) – Novak Djokovic is facing potential disciplinary action from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) after the Kosovo Olympic authorities lodged a complaint against him.
The accusation stems from Djokovic’s statement at the French Open after he wrote “Kosovo is the heart of Serbia” on a camera lens following his first-round victory. The timing of his statement coincided with clashes between NATO peacekeeping troops and Serb protesters in Zvecan, Djokovic’s father’s hometown.
The Serbian athlete defended his statement but expressed opposition to any form of conflict. However, Kosovo’s Olympic Committee (KOK) President, Ismet Krasniqi, criticised Djokovic for allegedly promoting Serbian nationalists’ propaganda and exacerbating tensions through his public remarks. Krasniqi called for disciplinary proceedings against the tennis player, highlighting the potential consequences of such statements in escalating violence between the two countries.
Meanwhile, Kosovo’s Tennis Federation labelled Djokovic’s comments as “regrettable” and accused him of exploiting his celebrity status to incite unrest. In response to the escalating violence, NATO announced the deployment of 700 additional troops to Kosovo, with one battalion put on high alert.
The IOC is yet to respond to the request for an investigation and it is uncertain what manner of disciplinary actions can be taken against the tennis star, if any.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
