The International Federation of Padel (FIP) is at the heart of an unprecedented controversy. For the first time,Professional Padel Players Association (PPA) point finger at one major conflict of interest within the organization that officially regulates world padel.

In its press release of February 21, 2025, the PPA emphasizes that the FIP, supposed to ensure neutral governance of padel, is directly involved in the management of Premier Padel, private circuit financed by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI). A situation which, according to the players, threatens the integrity of sport et hinders the establishment of transparent regulation.

An unprecedented position taken by the players

Until now, the PPA had criticized some decisions of the FIP without calling into question its neutrality. Now, players are denouncing a situation where the regulatory body is also acting as commercial actor, lifting serious doubts about impartiality of his decisions.

One of the points raised concerns changing the points system in mid-season, a unilateral decision that benefits some tournaments to the detriment of others. But beyond this immediate problem, the PPA insists on a deeper dysfunction, revealing a lack of transparency in the management of professional padel.

Padel Magazine had already raised the issue in 2022

From June 2022, Padel Magazine warned of the close links between the FIP, QSI et Premier Padel. The investigation revealed that Premier Padel LLC, a private entity domiciled at Qatar, was managed by a board of directors comprising influential members of the FIP, including its president Luigi Carraro.

QSI and FIP are associated Premier Padel

A private circuit under influence

Among the five members of the board of directors of Premier Padel, we find :

  • Ziad Hage Hammoud
  • Yousif Mohammed HA Al Obaidli
  • Nasser Ghanim A Al-Khelaïfi (president of QSI)
  • Luigi Carraro (President of the FIP)
  • Diego Miguel Miller Vidal (President of the Uruguayan Padel Federation and close to Carraro)

These elements raise a major question: How can the FIP claim to be a neutral regulator of world padel while being directly involved in the management of a private circuit?

The investigation of Padel Magazine of 2022 highlighted several questions:

  • Why did the FIP suddenly change its position on the World Padel Tour end of 2021?
  • Why does it refuse to integrate other circuits under its umbrella, apart from Premier Padel ?
  • Does this partnership with QSI not constitute a conflict of interest?

Today, these questions find a resounding echo with the position taken by the PPA.

Governance that slows down the development of padel

La PPA does not just denounce this situation. It warns against the bad consequences of such opaque governance on the development of padel. For the players, the attitude of the FIP prevents fair regulation and undermines the Olympic ambitions padel.

The players' demands are clear:

  • A strict separation between FIP and Premier Padel
  • Transparent and fair governance
  • An open dialogue with all stakeholders in padel

Without these guarantees, players feel that Professional padel will continue to be run according to private interests, to the detriment of a global and unifying vision of sport.

A turning point in the conflict between the FIP and the players?

With this official statement, the PPA reaches new milestone in his arm wrestling with the FIP. Until now, tensions between players and padel authorities were latent. Now, they are clearly exposed.

While Premier Padel is about to begin its fourth season, This conflict of interest could well become a breaking point between the players and the circuit leaders.

It remains to be seen whether the FIP will respond to the accusations of the PPA or if it will continue to defend a model contested by the main players in professional padel.

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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