Following the incident that took place held at World Padel Tour Master of Buenos Aires, Pablo Lijo is given a particularly heavy sporting sanction: ineligibility for 12 tournaments!

The player has filed an appeal and the circuit must give a definitive answer before January 28. But if this sanction is confirmed, and even if we do not yet have the WPT calendar, based on that of 2022, the Spaniard should then potentially wait until next September to resume the Open and Master because the sanction does not concern the Challengers.

A sanction, perhaps to put into perspective.

We expected an economic sanction (€600) or even a sanction of two tournaments (there is no maximum) if we are to believe chapter 2 article 25 of the sporting regulations. Ineligibility for 12 tournaments therefore seems severe.

However, there are still the FIP tournaments, Premier Padel and maybe even the APT Padel Round. Looking at one of his Instagram posts, we even thought that the Galician could stop playing on the WPT. The fact that he is appealing, however, seems to indicate otherwise.

A misplaced gesture

The 31-year-old has admittedly had gestures that do not plead in his favor.

In this 3e an explosive set between Pablo Lijo / JAvi Ruiz and the local pair Leandro Augsburger / Valentino Libaak, the public came to lend a hand to the local pair, pushing the youngsters to achieve the feat of the tournament.

In this sulphurous atmosphere, Pablo failed to manage his nerves, causing him to make unusual mistakes and, more seriously, an inappropriate gesture, he who touched his genitals in front of the public.

Apologies are not enough

Pablo Lijo apologized. Obviously, this is not enough for the moment.

« A professional should have been calmer and not become provocative. I apologize and I will come back next year as if nothing had happened »

Beyond the behavior, there is also necessarily a special relationship between the WPT and Pablo Lijo. The latter has repeatedly issued strong criticisms of this circuit. This obviously weighs in the balance.

What about the near future of Pablo Lijo on the WPT? We will know the final decision in a few weeks.

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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