Tony Jones is branded RACIST in stunning human rights complaint that calls for him to be sacked for mocking Novak Djokovic – as Serb star’s hidden message to fans is revealed
Angry Serbian Australians have lodged an official complaint about Channel 9 reporter Tony Jones’ comments on tennis star Novak Djokovic with the Human Rights Commission, claiming they were racist.
Djokovic boycotted on-court interviews at the Australian Open, demanding an apology from Channel 9 for comments he called “insulting” and mocking toward Serbian fans.
Host Tony Jones allegedly encouraged Djokovic supporters to cheer while mocking him live on air, unbeknownst to the crowd.
‘Welcome back to Melbourne Park, where you can see the Novak Djokovic fans, they’re in full voice,’ Jones said. ‘The chants are quite extraordinary.’
He then turned round to face them and delivered some sledging chants of his own: ‘Novak, he’s overrated,’ Jones sang. ‘Novak’s a has-been. Novak, kick him out.
‘Boy, I’m glad they can’t hear me. Anyway, let’s get onto the tennis.’
Djokovic declined a post-match interview after his win over Jiri Lehecka, prompting some boos from the audience. Instead, he issued a prepared statement, reiterating his refusal to engage with the broadcaster until the issue is resolved.
Jones made a public apology on Monday.
Channel 9 Australian Open host Tony Jones offended the Serbian Council of Australia with comments he made during the broadcast on Friday
Jones mocked Djokovic (pictured) and his supporters during the broadcast, leading to the Serbian star boycotting his on-court media commitments
The Serbian Council of Australia posted their letter of complaint on social media platform Facebook
However that is not enough for the Serbian Coucil Australia, which has written a letter of complaint to the Human Rights Comission saying Jones’ comments were offensive toward all Serbian Australians.
‘A complaint has been lodged with the Human Rights Commission in relation to Mr Tony Jones and Channel 9 following comments made by Channel Nine sports commentator Mr Tony Jones during a live broadcast on the evening of 17 January 2025,’ the council’s statement said.
‘Evidence from crowd members suggests that Mr Jones invited Australian-Serbian fans before a live broadcast and asked them to begin chanting and cheering.
‘The fans were led to believe that they would be filmed as part of a Channel Nine segment on Australian Open fans.
‘However, the footage shows Mr Jones mocking the Australian-Serbian fans behind him both through his comments and body language.
‘Mr Jones started the broadcast by saying that ‘Novak, he’s overrated’. He proceeds to exclaim that ‘Novak a has-been. Novak, kick him out’.
For Australian-Serbs, the words ‘kick him out’ is akin to saying ‘kick the Serbs out of Australia’ because there is strong evidence of feelings of exclusion due to media reporting about Australian-Serbs in the past.
‘SCOFA submitted a report to the Federal Government called ‘Experiences of Vilification and Discrimination of Australian Serbs following the deportation of Novak Djokovic in January 2022’.
Djokovic did not fulfil his post-match media commitments on Sunday, only telling the crowd that he would not be conducting interviews until the issue was resolved
It shows that the Australian-Serbian community was exposed to anti-Serb sentiment during and after Novak Djokovic’s deportation. Much of this anti-Serb sentiment was fuelled by negative media of Serbs more generally.’
The council then lists a series of demands, including calls for Jones to be sacked.
‘We hereby demand that Channel 9:1. Immediately suspend Mr Tony Jones down from all sports broadcasting duties at Channel 9, in particular all duties to do with the Australian Open 2025;2.
Dismiss Mr Tony Jones from his broadcasting role with Channel 9
‘Issue SCOFA, and particularly the Australian-Serbian community and all Australian Open fans a formal apology, which is to be published on the Channel 9 website, newspaper and TV.’
Daily Mail Australia does not suggest that Jones was being racist when he made the comments about Djokovic.
The complaint was met with mixed viewers by Australians, with plenty applauding the Serbian Council of Australia’s move.
‘Tony Jones needs to face the consequences of his actions. Can’t disagree with the official statement by Serbian committee,’ one fan posted.
‘Channel 9 need this lesson and to stand Tony Jones down,’ added another.
Djokovic wrote a message to his Serbian fans on the camera after his round four win at the Australian Open
But there were also several comments saying that the move by the council went too far.
‘It was all meant to be a joke. SCOA is offended. He apologised. Get over it,’ fumed one follower.
‘Tony Jones has said worse things about more sensitive topics,’ posted another.
But the SCOA responded to those comments, saying they would think differently if it was former Australian tennis champion Ash Barty that was being mocked.
‘You may think differently if it was a group of Australian flag waving fans supporting Ash Barty at Wimbledon or the French Open who were set up by being told to cheer and then were mocked by the host broadcaster,’ the SCOA replied.
While Djokovic did not talk to media after his Australian Open win on Sunday, he did send a message to his supporters by signing “Bog se javi” in Cyrillic on a broadcast camera.
The message was for Serbian fans, who were celebrating the Serbian Orthodox Feast Bogojavljenje, or Theophany, on January 29.
“Bog se javi” translates to “God is revealed” and is a traditional Serbian Orthodox greeting associated with Bogojavljenje.
It reflects the celebration’s central theme: the revelation of the Holy Trinity during Jesus Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River.
Despite saying he would not be signing autographs, Djokovic did come out of the dressing rooms to sign some for his adoring fans anyway.
Djokovic will next play Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter finals after the Spaniard beat Jack Draper to book his place in the second week at Melbourne Park.
The Human Rights Commission did not comment on the complaint made about Jones’ behaviour, but did release a short statement.
‘The Commission does not comment on or release information about individual complaints,’ it read.
‘This includes being unable to confirm or deny whether a complaint has been made. Complaints to the Commission are confidential to protect the privacy of all parties involved, and all Commission staff are required to comply with strict non-disclosure obligations.’
