The new measures put in place by the French Tennis Federation for the next P2000 do not seem to suit everyone.

P2000s reserved for French people and foreign residents

Le economic recovery plan padel wanted by the FFT, seems mostly very well received by the actors of the padel. As proof, the money that the Federation puts on the table to help all those who have suffered from the Covid-19 crisis should make it possible to quickly revive the development dynamic of our sport.

On the other hand, a measure of this plan does not really satisfy everyone, the fact of limit the next six P2000 to the French and foreigners with a resident card:

The FFT aims to offer its elite padel a high-level national competition offering, while pursuing its priority concern to protect its audiences and fight against the spread of the virus. In the current international health context, it is prudent to limit participation in our competitions to French nationals only.

However, an exemption will be granted to any person of foreign nationality holding a permanent resident or long-term resident card allowing him to stay in France. This card must be presented to the referee. Failing to be able to present this document before entering the competition, any person of foreign nationality will not be authorized to take part in the competition.

Unhappy Spanish players

Jorge de Benito, who had planned to come and play the first tournament in Perpignan does not hide his disappointment:

“For me this decision is not at all wise. The only thing they will be able to do is limit the progress of the padel French, both in terms of level of play and visibility. It's a shame because the padel French has been on an excellent development dynamic for several years now. I am convinced that some Spaniards, who had planned to play the P2000s like me, will not be happy at all. And I think there is enough since in Spain, the tournaments are open to everyone… ”

Although this measure only applies to the six P2000s of 2020 and it is understood that the majority of the FFT wants to help its nationals, this does not seem not very fair that the Spaniards are not allowed to come and play in France, while in Spain French players are accepted in all tournaments.

Few players concerned

In the end, over the last few years, relatively few foreign players came to decorate the French tables, we think of a few Belgian players, then players who play in Spain: Denis Perino, Marc Bernils, Fernando Poggi, Gaby Reca, the De Benito brothers… No top player from the WPT who therefore comes to grab the prize money in France, since 'apart from Perino (49 WPT), none of the aforementioned players is currently in the Top 50 of the World Padel Tour.

From the point of view of many, these players raised the level of tournaments, allowed the best French to have more interesting matches, and the public to see different things. For at the end of the day less than ten players, who are not not necessarily better than the members of the France team (during the P2000 of Valenciennes the final opposed Blanqué / Bergeron to Tison / Maigret while Bernils and the De Benito brothers were in the table).

No remuneration for foreigners

While initially wishing to limit P2000 to persons of French nationality only, the FFT reversed its decision and finally accepted foreigners residing in France, since they are not no more likely than the French to be carriers of Covid-19.

However, to be able to register, they must forgo the prize money that they could possibly touch:

These 6 tournaments are organized as part of the FFT's PSR (Support and Recovery Plan) for the French tennis ecosystem and related disciplines. To do this, the FFT has contracted a large loan and it is logical that it concentrates its financial efforts for the benefit of French players and clubs. Consequently, a player of foreign nationality qualified for a semi-final, a final, or winner of the tournament will not be able to claim the payment of any prize money in a P2000 of the PSR.

It is in the interest of all stakeholders padel in France that the visibility of this action be made around the best French players.

Here again, this measure is quite surprising, since it concerns only a very few people. According to our research, a player and a player would be in this situation at present. Two residents who work in France, and pay their taxes in France don't they deserve the prize money like everyone else?

No Covid Testing for Everyone

One of the arguments put forward by the FFT to limit these P2000s to the French was that of the Covid and the concern to limit its spread. But in this case how to justify that the French who reside in Spain can come to participate in tournaments, when they are just as much at risk as their Spanish counterparts?

In order to avoid any problem during the French team's internship, the FFT demanded that all the players summoned pass the serology and the PCR this Monday. On the other hand, no test required for those participating in P2000. We understand that there is more proximity between players during the camp than during the tournament but to guard against any bad surprises it would perhaps have been more coherent to do as on the WPT, namely to impose the test on everyone. world…

 

 

Team Padel May

Team Padel Magazine tries to offer you since 2013 the best of padel, but also surveys, analyzes to try to understand the world of padel. From the game to the politics of our sport, Padel Magazine is at your service.

On the same subject