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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