The International Federation of padel (FIP) authorized us to communicate on the regulatory points that it must respect, like its members. These elements seem interesting to take into account in order to fully appreciate the dispute between the FIP and the European Association of Padel.

The statutes of the International Federation Padel (hereinafter referred to as the FIP or IPF) stipulate among its articles the questions related to the official competitions of the FIP, their ownership and denomination, their types, their anti-doping and anti-corruption programs and their complementary structure. (Social statutes, Organic regulations).

In particular, article 2.1 of the aforementioned statutes: Competitions, Exclusive property, begins with the writing as follows: The following words or descriptions are the exclusive property of the FIP and it could be authorized to use them from time to time. other by the associate members. where applicable: and among others, it appoints the following: “regional” championship of Padel; Championships Padel “Regional” absolutes; "Regional" championships by teams of padel - "regional" championships of padel in teams; National "regional" championships of Padel - "regional" championships of Padel for national couples; “Regional” pairs championships Padel - "regional" championships of Padel for couples; “Regional” openness; Championships Padel Junior "regional"; The "regional" championships of padel for junior teams / for senior teams; National "regional" championships of Padel for junior / senior couples - Padel "regional"; National championship for junior / senior couples.

Previously, Article 1 of the above-mentioned Statutes, in its sixth paragraph, defines the following: The terms "regional" are replaced by the terms European, American, Pan-American, South American, African, Asian, Middle Eastern, etc. .

The International Federation of Padel is the body responsible for organizing the Padel at the World level.

The World Association of International Sports Federations (AGFIS) is the association formed by the international sports federations and the entity which recognizes the international federations responsible for the development of each sport serving as an antechamber to the Olympic movement.

The FIP as a member of GAISF is recognized as the sole entity responsible for the organization of padel in the whole world.

The exclusive ownership of the tournaments defined in its statutes means that it is the FIP that awards the organization of these tournaments. This power is conferred by the aforementioned laws, regulations and technical regulations.

With regard to the Absolute European Championships, it should be noted that since the first edition held in Milano Marittima (Italy) in 1995, following the 1997 editions in Barcelona (Spain), in 1999 in Waterloo (Belgium), in 2001 in Sabadell (Spain), in 2003 in Aix-en-Provence (France), in 2005 in Bologna (Italy), in 2007 in Seville (Spain), in 2009 in Estoril (Portugal) and in Rijswijk-La Haya (The Netherlands) in 2015 and 2017 in Estoril (Portugal), all rights of organization were awarded directly by the FIP to associate members of the countries in which said championships were disputed.

The last two editions are: the Rijswijk-La Haya, in the Netherlands, right of organization granted to the General Assembly held in Mexico City in 2015, followed by the Ordinary General Assembly of 2017 (Malaga), at which he been awarded the organization of the Absolute European Championship (teams and pairs) in 2017 to the Portuguese Federation Padel, which will take place in Estoril in November of the same year.

With regard to the technical regulations of the FIP tournaments, in each of them, the types of competitions are defined as follows:

CHAPTER II: OFFICIAL COMPETITIONS II.1. DEFINITION The competitions listed in the official calendar are "official competitions". The "official competitions" are divided into: The "World Championships" are those in which a world champion title is put into play. They are defined and selected by the FIP. "Continental or regional championships" are those in which a continental or regional championship title is in play. They are defined and selected by the corresponding continental or regional federation in the event that it is recognized by the FIP or, failing that, by the same FIP. All other competitions listed in the official FIP calendar are "international tournaments".

In point II.2.1 of the technical regulations, it is also indicated the following: "The" official competitions "depend directly on the FIP in terms of competition rules, disciplinary rules, rules of the game, etc. Continental or regional champions are produced or simply count for the official ranking of FIP ...... "

And in the following article (II.2.1.2), it is determined that: "The official calendar will include: the world championships in all its categories, the continental championships, the regional championships and the tournaments that deserve it, according to the judgment of the FIP because they are part of a sports project, their budget, their advertising and their organization are adequate ".

As mentioned above, the FIP, in the absence of a recognized Continental Federation (for which it is necessary to respect the precepts set forth in Article 7 of the FIP Constitution), is responsible for awarding the Continental or Regional Championships to the Federation. corresponding associate member or approved company recognized by the FIP (potential organizer).

The FIP knows that in January of the year 2019, an entity based in Switzerland, called European Padel Association (EPA), was created.

Article 7.1 of the FIP Constitution stipulates the following: "Regional associations that have been in existence for more than three years may apply for affiliation to the Federation"

To date, FIP has not received any formal affiliation requests from any continental European organization.

This is why the FIP is currently the only entity entitled to organize the organization of a tournament exclusively owned by the FIP, such as the Absolute European Championship; only the FIP owns the property - as stated in the Statutes and Technical Regulations - and the faculty and the right to award the organization thereof.

Therefore, all associate members of the IPF have the statutory obligation to recognize the IPF as the sole governing body of the sport of padel in the world and to accept the statutes, regulations and rules of the IPF, as stipulated in the second paragraph of article 2.1 of the Constitution of the International Federation Padel.

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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