[box type = ”info”] Big controversy during these European Championships of Padel in Lisbon where France and Italy are singled out for not having played the game according to 3 countries including Belgium who believe that the 2 nations did not want to come first in their group to avoid certain teams in the main draw.

Whose fault is it ? Nations or the rules of the competition ?[/box]

The objective of this article is to unite the nations against a regulation and a system of the International Federation of Padel (FIP) by necessarily in line with the game and which poses a problem every year:

KNOWLEDGE BEFORE THE START OF COMPETITION OF POSITIONS OF THE QUALIFIES IN THE MAIN TABLE.

The problem:

Each year, we have the right to our share of suspicions wrongly or rightly during the European or World Championships of padel, because there is sometimes more interest in coming second than first in a pool. Why ? Because the teams / nations already know who they could play against in the main draw depending on the position in the pool.

Result :

Nations sometimes have "less motivation" or "some players”To promote a loss and allow them to play against a more interesting team afterwards.

On these European Championships of padel 2017, we therefore found ourselves in configurations that question.

Case 1 - Italy's surprise defeat at the European Championships padel in Lisbon:

First, Italy loses against all odds against Belgium. Andres Britos who claims to be injured (but who does the individual Open in parallel and then plays beautifully at the Euro) did not even participate in this confrontation. Marcelo Capitani, the Italian magician, played in 3 match while Belgium was already leading 2 games at 0, surprising as a strategy (Although Capitani is a regular at playing 3th position). And a global level of Italians "below their usual standing".

We do not say anything, but there is a multitude of clusters of clues that amaze.

This defeat of the Italians makes it possible to avoid Spain in the semifinals and thus to be in the table game of Portugal. A defeat that is worth gold and hope for the Italians who have a chance maybe a chance to go in the final. (But they will lose in half against the Portuguese)

Case 2 - France's surprise defeat against the Germans

Do not hide us. France was the favorite of her hen. Faced with the German team (which nevertheless beat 2 / 1 the Netherlands), France had to win its confrontation and validate its ticket for the first place.

But the average performance of French players over the 3 matches, Jeremy Scatena's calf strain in this third match that some Belgians estimate “imaginary like the injury of the Italian André Britos"And abandonment to give victory to Germany logically lead to suspicion. Especially since the Germans did not want to finish first of their pool either.

Why ? Italy is certainly part of the 3e European nation, perhaps in France. (And Italy beat France in the small final ...)

However, a Italy - France in the quarterfinals seemed to be actually the small final before the hour.

In short, it was better for France as for Italy to avoid these quarters.

One solution: CHANGE the rules

We have been facing this kind of problem for many years. However, the FIP does nothing when it does not cost a dime to change the rules and allow the surplus to add a small share of suspense.

Here are the 4 lines that will avoid all these problems:

THE POSITIONS OF QUALIFIED TEAMS MUST NOT BE KNOWN IN A MAIN TABLE BEFORE THE RESULTS OF THE CHILD PHASES ARE KNOWN.

A DRAFT DRAW WILL BE DONE ONCE THE PHASES OF HUNTERS COMPLETE AND THE TEAMS CLASSIFIED IN THE HUNTING.

2 phrases that would have avoided the situation today: Suspicion about players and / or teams.

Should we blame teams or players?

Doing on purpose to lose and this no matter the reason is an unsportsmanlike behavior. Even if again we do not accuse anyone. But the FIP must change its rules.

We can criticize Ad vitam æternam this behavior but that will not change if the actors of the padel international regulators do not take the few minutes to do the necessary.

To calculate is human

From amateur to professional, we try most often to find the most interesting way to go further ...

Of course, the attitude of the players is not glorious, but it's like that. Especially, that players may be repairing "an unfair situation caused by this rule". And it's not so wrong.

The basic problem therefore remains this regulation.

Come on, a dear effort International Federation of Padel, you can do it. Change this regulation requested by all nations, and we will stop these unnecessary controversies overnight for the good of our sport.

Franck Binisti - Padel Magazine

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovers the padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since padel is part of his life. You often see him touring France going to cover the major events of padel French.

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