The recent publication of the registration policy of the  FIP  This brings back to the forefront a central question for international padel:  Do you have to pay to have the right to register for tournaments? 

To participate in  FIP Tour  ou  Premier Padel Players are required to subscribe to  Padel Uno , the official registration platform. This allows the  creating a player profile , access to  rankings , to  calendars , to  tournament information  and  official statistics A centralized tool, presented by the federation as essential to the proper functioning of the international circuit.

La  annual price list  is now clearly established:  € 120 for Premier Padel ,  €80 for the Cupra FIP Tour ,  €150 for combined access ,  €40 for the FIP Promises ,  €25 for the FIP Beyond These amounts are in addition to a reality already well known to players:  national license ,  tournament registration fees ,  trips ,  an accommodation ,  sports coaching , all for one  Prize money is often limited , in particular outside the world's top (who, by the way, should not pay this pricing structure…).

The question, therefore, is not so much whether a registration tool should exist. In fact,  Padel doesn't invent anything .

In the  professional tennis Any player wishing to compete on the international circuit must possess a  IPIN  (International Player Identification Number). Without this identifier, registration for ITF tournaments is not possible. The cost is approximately  $90 per year for professionals ...slightly less so for juniors. In addition to this, there are...  fees per tournament , which vary depending on the level of the test. The principle is therefore strictly comparable:  annual access to the system and then the costs associated with each competition.

In other sports like  badminton ,  basket ,  volley  or  Rugby Digital platforms also exist, but their cost is generally  integrated into the federal license The player pays, but without feeling like he is settling a debt.  administrative entry fee  distinct. The cost is  shared , therefore less visible.

Padel today finds itself at the crossroads of these models. Yes, the  FIP is following in the footsteps of already structured sports.  by imposing a centralized, fee-based system. No, the problem doesn't lie solely in the existence of  Padel Uno It is located rather in the  cumulative charges  and in their  disproportionate impact  on players in the intermediate and development circuits.

Where tennis benefits from  mature economic ecosystem Padel still requires a majority of players to absorb significant fixed costs for  uncertain income It is this reality that fuels the unease today, much more than the very principle of paying for software.

Tournament access: padel more expensive than tennis

Padel vs Tennis: Who pays for what?

 Padel (FIP / Premier Padel) 
• Mandatory platform access:  €25 to €150 / year  according to the circuit
• National license: varies depending on the country
• Tournament entry fees: yes
• Prize money: limited outside the world elite

 Tennis (ITF) 
• IPIN required:  approximately $90/year  (pros)
• National license: mandatory
• Tournament entry fees: yes
• Prize money: more structured, even at the bottom of the table

Padel is not  no more expensive in principle But he is  in its overall economic reality , especially for players who are still developing.

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.

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