Djokovic’s sponsor Lacoste to ‘review events’ around Australian deportation

threehandedbackhand

threehandedbackhand

Legend
Novak Djokovic’s sponsor Lacoste to ‘review events’ around Australian deportation
French kit maker plans to speak to unvaccinated tennis star ‘as soon as possible’

Leading Novak Djokovic sponsor Lacoste has said it plans to “review” the events that led to the tennis star’s deportation from Australia, highlighting the potential fallout for athletes who remain unvaccinated against Covid-19. “As soon as possible, we will be in touch with Novak Djokovic to review the events that have accompanied his presence in Australia,” Lacoste said on Monday. Lacoste, owned by Swiss group MF Brands, signed a multiyear deal with Djokovic as kit sponsor in 2017. According to Forbes, the men’s world number-one earns $30m a year from sponsorship tie-ups. The review comes after Djokovic, who has declined to be vaccinated against Covid, said he was “extremely disappointed” that the Australian courts had decided to uphold a government decision to cancel his visa. The ruling means he is unable to compete in this month’s Australian Open tournament. Djokovic had entered Australia with a medical exemption from a vaccine requirement but had his initial visa cancelled. He had sought to stay in the country to compete for a record 21st Grand Slam title but his legal challenge was unsuccessful. He has now been deported and returned to Serbia. Djokovic’s opposition to mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations highlights the dilemma facing sports sponsors, which must weigh their approach when athletes raise objections to widely recommended public health measures such as vaccination.

His participation in the French Open, the next Grand Slam on the tennis calendar, is also in doubt after Roxana Maracineanu, sports minister for France, said that spectators, staff and players would need to show proof of vaccination to enter sports stadiums and other public places. The tournament in Paris is due to start in May. Other sponsors of Djokovic include carmaker Peugeot, luxury watch brand Hublot and Austrian lender Raiffeisen Bank International. Raiffeisen, which agreed a tie-up with Djokovic in April last year, said his “high reputation in central and eastern Europe” was its motivation for the multiyear deal and pointed to “his social commitment”. But it added that the partnership had been agreed “long before the current reporting on Novak Djokovic and his Covid-19 vaccination status, or his participation in the Australian Open”. Hublot previously told the Financial Times: “Novak Djokovic is his own person. We cannot comment on any of his personal decisions.” Lacoste, founded by two tennis players in 1933, thanked the organisers of the Australian Open for “all their efforts to ensure that the tournament is held in good conditions for players, staff and spectators”. Djokovic first voiced opposition to mandatory Covid-19 vaccination in 2020.
Click to expand...

Subscribe to read | Financial Times

News, analysis and comment from the Financial Times, the worldʼs leading global business publication
www.ft.com www.ft.com
 
Bertie B

Bertie B

Hall of Fame
This is getting intense. I just wanted him to be slapped around a bit.

Though, Djokovic is Martian and the Martian principle is loathed in the western consciousness.
 
Cupcake

Cupcake

Hall of Fame
"According to Forbes, the men’s world number-one earns $30m a year from sponsorship tie-ups." ~ from the OP's article.

Did I just hear the Djokovic team calling to make a vax appt for him?
If he's not going to play, what is the point of paying him?
 
N01E

N01E

Hall of Fame
Pretty normal reaction since they want to know what his scheduling and plans are with mandatory vaccines becoming more common. If he doesn't play then outfits they prepared for the events won't sell well and I assume he has some contract obligations (Lacoste isn't Uniqlo). Head obviously doesn't care (Asics probably too). Controversy may boost sales in the short run (his Lacoste fan pack that they just released already sold out in all, but 2 sizes and is marked as fast selling on their website), but they obviously have to think about the future.
 
vex

vex

Legend
Tshooter said:
Translation: we need to have a little sit down just to remind Egg of the terms of his “on-court” endorsement agreement. 8-B
Click to expand...
Nailed it.

this dude gonna get vaxed so fast your head gonna spin.

I legit wonder what the sycophants are gonna say when he inevitably gets vaxed ahead of Indian Wells. The spin is gonna be hilarious.
 
O

obana48

Rookie
Aussie Darcy said:
I doubt they’ll drop him but not sure what company wants an anti vaxxer who breaks the law knowing they had Covid and ignoring it to possibly infect others as their spokesperson.
Click to expand...

in unmoral hypocritic democracies vaxers are ready to send a man to the guillotine to save their money
 
Tshooter

Tshooter

G.O.A.T.
obana48 said:
in unmoral hypocritic democracies vaxers are ready to send a man to the guillotine to save their money
Click to expand...


guillotine

gĭl′ə-tēn″, gē′ə-
noun
  1. A device consisting of a heavy blade held aloft between upright guides and dropped to behead a person condemned to die.
  2. An instrument, such as a paper cutter, similar in action to a guillotine.
  3. A machine for breaking iron by means of a falling weight.

    airplane
    [ air-pleyn ]

    noun
    a heavier-than-air aircraft kept aloft by the upward thrust exerted by the passing air on its fixed wings and driven by propellers, jet propulsion,
 
Bartelby

Bartelby

Bionic Poster
It's probably got little to do specifically with Australia. The question is how much good exposure does he give Lacoste if he doesn't play and if he is saddled with the label of anti-vaxxer?

Visionary said:
The headline of this article suggests that the company wants to investigate what's happened on Novak's trip. Remember that Australia isn't such a big market; there may be more sheep than people with all due respect.
Click to expand...
 
Bartelby

Bartelby

Bionic Poster
If Lacoste does drop him, Djkovic should take defamation action against Hawke and other members of the Government.

He is almost certain to win after a long painful process. But we have chubby billionaires who have a side-line in legal action.
 
DSH

DSH

G.O.A.T.
Crocodiles gobble up without remorse; Djokovic is in trouble!
:sick:
 
Last edited:
yokied

yokied

Hall of Fame
Of course he won't be dropped because of this. But I think we'll see Novak's sponsors have all their contractual ducks in a row if Novak chooses to draw attention to them as they head for the exits over the coming year.
 
Tshooter

Tshooter

G.O.A.T.
yokied said:
Of course he won't be dropped because of this. But I think we'll see Novak's sponsors have all their contractual ducks in a row if Novak chooses to draw attention to them as they head for the exits over the coming year.
Click to expand...

These contracts typically provide for a base amount + bonuses. The base is often subject to minimum play and other reduction clauses. In addition, the contract will provide the sponsor with the option to terminate the agreement under certain conditions such as the athlete being inactive for a certain amount of time or any situation that brings the athlete into public rebuke, scandal, etc…

They want to sit down and talk. 8-B
 
Last edited:
dapchai

dapchai

Legend
Lacoste then decides to sign a new contract with the newcomer Novasque Chocoviche instead. French brands ft. French players is nothing new.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Kralingen
Renata Voracova Deportation vs. Djokovic Non-Deportation
2
Replies
68
Views
1K
jmnk
J
weakera
Novak Djokovic loses yet another sponsor
Replies
30
Views
912
Zardoz7/12
Zardoz7/12
weakera
Australian Open chief Tiley confident on Nadal, uncertain on Djokovic
Replies
13
Views
389
Deleted member 748597
D
W
Guess What , no vaccine needed for Australia anymore
Replies
9
Views
223
Sport
Sport
StringGuruMRT
Novak Djokovic: Australian Open vaccine exemption ignites backlash
Replies
15
Views
476
Cupcake
Cupcake
Top