La Spanish Federation of padel is in turmoil. After the total boycott of professional female players, the situation takes a delicate turn, and the FEP must return to the load with other releases to try to calm the tensions.

The FEP criticized, the players present intimidated

Despite the call for a boycott of the best, some WPT preprevias level players still decided to play in the Spanish Championship. Players who certainly have their reasons but who are accused of wanting to “take advantage of the absence of the best to take the jackpot of the neglected prize money”.

If this choice can be understood on the financial aspect - € 30 in prize money -, and on the sporting aspect - the only chance for these players to be crowned champions of Spain - this attitude is not acceptable to those who orchestrated the boycott.

These players were therefore taken to task and would have even received "threats", especially on social networks.

Social networks on which the FEP is strongly criticized, often accused of chauvinist for this case of the bonus of 9 euros to prevent some gentlemen from playing exhibitions abroad.

Today she is issuing a new press release for to affirm once again its position in favor of fairness in sport, and to try to put an end to the pressures weighing on the players who have chosen to participate in the Spanish Championship 2021. 

 

" FEP: a federation that promotes equity ”

“The Spanish Federation of Padel wishes to express its absolute rejection of the comments and statements that appear in various media regarding the unequal treatment between male and female players during the XXXVII Spanish Championship of Padel (CEP) which will be held this week at the Wizink Center in Madrid.

The FEP has defined equal treatment for men's and women's competitions at the CEP, which translates into a distribution of 60 euros equally between the male and female categories, equal distribution of match times and venues, equal broadcasting time for both categories and, in general, treatment that is scrupulously respectful of the principles which support sport on an equal basis for men and women.

The particular initiative taken by the organizers of the event to encourage the participation of certain players is not linked to the Spanish Federation of padel and is totally external to the competition. This is a common practice in many sports disciplines which is part of the relationship between companies, sponsors and players who seek to increase the visibility of the sports spectacle and thus strengthen the commitment that they take towards this championship.

The FEP maintained absolute respect for the decision of the sportswomen not to participate in this federative competition and, despite their refusal, tried to reorient the situation until the last moment.

fep official press release

Despite this, the Spanish Federation cannot accept statements that do not correspond to reality: the XXXVIIth Spanish Championship of padel is a competition which offers the same conditions and the same treatment to the players.

“Stop the pressures”

Some sportswomen understood this and decided to participate in the competition. Thus, the FEP demands the same respect for them as it has shown for the group of players who have decided not to participate in the championship. In this regard, the institution categorically rejects and demands an end to the disproportionate pressures and intimidating warnings that these players receive and which aim to provoke their non-participation in the tournament, as has already happened in some cases.

For this reason, the Spanish Federation of padel, while respecting the freedom of each player to participate in the competition, maintains its decision to continue the women's competition which begins next Thursday at the Wizink Center.

The VET is an institution which promotes the development and practice of sport based on equality. This is a basic principle that affects without exception all its fields of action, including, of course, the competitions which enjoy equal treatment in their male and female aspects: distribution of prizes, schedules, facilities , playing conditions, logistics, etc.)

This exercise of fairness is a matter of institutional responsibility, of commitment to equality, respect and justice.

In this context, demands in favor of a sport of equality, even if the forms are not shared, will always have the greatest respect from the institution. ”

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 !