The tension between Premier Padel and the players are huge. After the boycott of the tournament Gijón, the top 100 players in the world, excluding Franco Stupaczuk et Juan Lebrón and a few rare others, refused to register at the stage of Cancún. In an interview with Relief, Roberto Álvarez, legal representative of Premier Padel, looks back at the circuit's position in the face of this crisis and the possible consequences.

A worrying conflict for Premier Padel

To Premier Padel, the situation is critical. According to Roberto Álvarez, the absences in Gijón and Cancún constitute a contractual violation on the part of the players, with repercussions not only for the circuit, but also for the local promoters and sponsors. Despite this, he hopes for a resolution through dialogue: "We want to find a solution with common sense".

Possible legal consequences

The lawyer identifies three types of potential sanctions:

  • Breach of contract between players and Premier Padel.
  • Violation of sporting regulations, which may result in disciplinary sanctions under the authority of the FIP.
  • Damages to third parties, like the organizers and economic partners.

He insists, however, that this information is not a threat, but a warning about the legal implications of the boycott.

Negotiations ongoing, but disagreement persists

Since November, more than ten meetings took place between the players and Premier Padel, the last one in Saudi ArabiaThe discussions focused on the regulatory changes adopted by the FIP, some of which were requested by the players themselves, such as reducing the size of the tables.

Faced with criticism of the lack of consultation, Roberto Álvarez refutes: "There were discussions and adjustments were negotiated. There is written evidence of these discussions.".

A contested organizational model

Some players denounce a conflict of interest, because Luigi Carraro, president of the FIP, is also involved in Premier Padel. A point swept by Alvarez, who compares this structure to other professional sports such as F1 or MotoGP.

Luigi Carraro, the President of the FIP accused of being in the pocket of Premier Padel

Economically, the boycott has a negative impact on the attractiveness of the circuit, the presence of sponsors and the media audience. Each tournament affected worsens these losses.

Openness to dialogue, but firmness on the legal framework

Regarding the opening of registrations for Cancún, contested by the players, the lawyer believes that it does not harm anyone and that on the contrary it confirms a concerted collective decision for the boycott.

On the possibility of negotiating individually with certain players outside the PPA, he is categorical: "We are ready to talk with anyone who has a legitimate interest.".

A call for caution for players

Roberto Álvarez recommends players to consult independent legal experts to assess the consequences of their actions. He mentions in particular the case of Franco Stupaczuk, which ended its involvement in the boycott after learning of a legal report indicating its illegality.

Stupa over Cancun and the crisis Premier Padel : 'I don't know if it's a mistake' / 'Nobody knows where we're going'

A crisis that threatens the future of padel

Si Premier Padel is a project at long term, with massive investments, the current situation weakens the entire padel ecosystem. The lawyer concludes with a wish: "I sincerely hope that we will return to normal, for the good of padel and all its players".

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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