The last and millionaire Padel War: the “boycott” of the stars to Premier Padel, threats and a 25 -year contract “with lagoons”

“It is marmot’s day“I wrote Paquito Navarro In their social networks. One of the best known faces of Spanish paddlers reacted to the last war of his sport. On the one hand, the paddle grows like almost no other game in our country, in Europa And in different parts of the world, and on the other that evolution has been walking with the controversy for several years. First with the battle between World Padel Tourhistorical circuit, and Premier fellthe Catarí organization led by Nasser al-khelifi that has ended up with the world paddle under the promise (and the belief of players and technicians) to bathe this sport in gold. And now, just a few months after the arrival of Qatarwith the propose of the best players in the world to two tournaments (Gijón and Cancun) In the middle of a series of claims They have paralyzed the circuit as it had never happened.

The players, led by the Padel players association (PPA), they decided not to go to the Gijón tournament a few days ago, an event that is a P2that is, third level behind the ‘Major’ and the P1. And this is important to understand the reason for the moment of claims. In a few days the tournament of Cancunalso a P2, and there, except Juan Lebrón and Franco Stupaczukthe best players in the world will not be either.

The stars like Agustín Tapia and Artullo Coello or Ale Galán and Federico Chingotto (Couples number 1 and 2 of the world), and also those who are somewhat below in the ranking, will play again in the P1 from Miami. Because? Consider that by contract they are obligedalthough their demands are not satisfied at that time, and marksthat sponsor players and tournaments, press so that the show returns. There has even been a Call between Ale Galán and Al-Khelaifi To try to redirect the situation.

Premier Padel, meanwhile, accuses them of “boycott“The tournaments,”self -destruct“And warns them with possible Millionaire fines Because, according to the organization, these P2 tournaments are also mandatory for the first of the ranking. And here comes the beginning of the war. He 25 -year contract Signed between Premier and the players in 2022, when the battle between the circuit of Qatar and World Padel Tour was giant.

“It is the first contract signed with Premier Padel and in theory it was transitory because it has many lagoons,” explained Jose Diestro, a member of the PPA Board. “We were with a demand of 25 million on top (On the part of World Padel Tour) and signed quickly and running, “he said, sliding that” there is a new contract between hands that is blocked and that it would be the key to all this. “

In that contract, according to the PPA lawyer, “it is said that you have to play a minimum of tournaments, on another page that everyone and another. They are free interpretation clauses.” But the lawyer of Premier Padel, Roberto Álvarez, of the Cuatrecasas office, declared in a brand that “in no clause is established a difference between Majors, P1 and P2 and P2 and P2 and There is an obligation to play tournaments Organized by Premier Padel without distinguishing category. “

Sources from both parties confirm to this newspaper that have been valuing for months and sign a new contractbut from the Association of Players a “systematic breach of commitment” and “The current model is unsustainable“, As Alex Ruiz, president of the PPA, has stressed today.

Players’ requests

But what do players ask for? They claim the Reduction of the number of tournamentsthat right now is 20 and according to them it should be 16. Those four weeks free are key to athletes both physically and economically. Would rest from the competition and, at the same time, they would have time to go to exhibitions that, in some cases, they report more money than tournaments.

On the other hand, as I explain right, they want “the Change in the points system“Right now there is enough stir in the circuit because below the Premier (Major, P1 and P2) tournaments are the Tournaments of the International Padel Federation (FIP), where a victory gives even more points than to reach the final picture of a P2. “We ask sports things, we don’t ask for money. We want to have a clear regulation, know with time the type of picture, the number of points and the prize of a tournament and that do not change shortly. We don’t ask for money from anyone, “he said Martín Di Nenno (world number 6).

In addition to the calendar and the points, the players claim “an agreement between the PPA and the Federation, Legal security Faced with changes and update with tax issues of the 2022 agreement. “In short, be a real part of the project,” said right.