The Players' Association attacks the ITF: ”Hostile intentions”

During the day, the ITF, the International Tennis Federation, held a meeting to discuss taking over as the global governing body of padel. Now the PPA is coming out to defend the FIP. 
”It is quite impressive how now, all of a sudden, the ITF is seeking to take over the governance of Padel, so many years since the creation of our sport,” the player´s association writes in a letter. 

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) held its AGM during the day in Glasgow. On the agenda were plans to take over as the governing bodies in other racket sports such as padel and pickleball. 

This has prompted the International Padel Federation to act quickly and has filed a case with CAS. Now the PPA, the men's association with Alejandro Galan as president, is also issuing a letter defending the FIP and criticizing the ITF. 

”We are sending this urgent letter having been made aware – curiously not by you – of certain hostile intentions of you, as President of the ITF, towards the sport of padel.” 

In the letter, the PPA seems unaware of the ITF's actions. 

”It is quite impressive how now, all of a sudden, the ITF is seeking to take over the governance of Padel, so many years since the creation of our sport – and with the ITF having zero connection to the administration or development of our sport in this time.”

PPA: ”Disrespect to the players.”

It continues: 

”We find it all the more curious that you would seek to do this without engaging in any respect whatsoever with the players, our athletes – the heartbeat of the sport. It must be said such oversight not only shows your attempt to push through a takeover by stealth; but also shows immense disrespect to the players”. 

In addition to criticizing the ITF, it shows its support for the FIP. The existing governing padel federation which has been ruling since 1991. 

”The sport of padel may suddenly be a new and interesting sport for the ITF, given the incredible development and growth in recent years. However, if you did some research, you would find that padel has been a proud independent sport for over three decades. Further, at that time, Padel already had a governing body, the International Padel Federation (FIP), which has governed our sport for over 30 years, despite other private entities attempting to do so”.