A few weeks later the letter of World Padel Tour to players on January 19, Ale Galan, as president of the Professional Association of padel (PPA), responds again to the lawyer of WPT.

We also learn that it will certainly be a last direct response to the WPT.

While the main draw of the first Open du World Padel Tour 2022 kicks off tomorrow in Miami, players keep the pressure on.

And it is no coincidence that this letter from the world number one was sent the day before the Miami Padel Open.

A "categorical rejection of the charges"

The lawyers of World Padel Tour thus threatened players wishing to play on the FIP / QSI TOUR this year:

"If you fail to comply with any of the above obligations (or any other obligation under the contract), we will have no choice but to take legal action against you in order to defend our rights and the value of the WPT Tour, as well as the interests of our sponsors and tournaments, including claims for damages."

Faced with the lawyers of the WPT, the president of PPA therefore decided to answer them very clearly:

I reject the accusations you make in your letter and deny any allegations of non-compliance.

Ale Galan, president of the professional association of padel

Indeed, the world number one explains to be “surprised by this bet on guard”.

Players did not boycott WPT despite WPT threats and behavior “absolutely inappropriate and disproportionate.

ppa vs wpt european commission

The FIP in support

The International Federation of Padel is no longer an ally World Padel Tour. A sudden change of course which surprised many players in the microcosm of the padel. The FIP thus forfeited the WPT in favor of the circuit of Qatar Sports Investments (QSI).

Le FIP QSI TOWER officially becomes the reference professional circuit according to the last words of the president of the FIP: Luigi Carraro.

The response from the WPT was not long in coming, since it decided to no longer allow the FIP to benefit from its points and rankings system. A decision highly criticized by the PPA since it means that the points accumulated on the WPT no longer count in the world ranking.

Ale Galan Strikes Back: The WPT's Abuse of Dominance

Ale Galan thus explains that a “agreement limiting competition may constitute an abuse of a dominant position by SETPOINT."

PPA and the FIP are also sure of this state. The clauses of the WPT will be considered unfair in court.

Ale Galan concludes by demanding the WPT to “s'refrain from communicating” with him and stop “accusing him of any type of breach of contract”.

Finally, the number 1 believes that the WPT is playing a dangerous game since it “Hinders his professional development (…) which could cause serious and irreparable harm.”

From his names, we can guess his Spanish and Italian origins. Lorenzo is a multilingual passionate about sports: journalism by vocation and events by worship are his two legs. He is the international gentleman of Padel Magazine. You will often see it on the various international competitions, but also on the major French events. @eyeofpadel on Instagram to see his best photos of padel !

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