The Spanish Padel Federation criticises the ITF's plans: ”Different sports”

Yesterday, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) voted on creating a global governing body for padel. The International Padel Federation (FIP) openly criticized the decision. Now the Spanish Padel Federation shows its support for FIP. 
”We show our support and confidence in the FIP as the international governing body of our sport.” 

Yesterday, the ITF held its meeting with its shareholders and members in Glasgow. During the meeting, the possibility of creating a global governing body for padel was discussed.

Something that prompted both the FIP and the men's players association PPA to act quickly.

Now the Spanish padel federation, FEP, is showing its support towards the FIP, of which it is a member. And shows relief that ITF members voted against the proposal, which was communicated on Monday evening. 

”With respect to tennis: padel and tennis are different sports and have to be governed by independent and different federations.”, the official statement says.

And continues: 

”In this sense, we show our support and confidence in the FIP as the international governing body of our sport”. 

Padel — bigger than tennis in Spain 

In Spain, according to figures published by the CSD (Superior Sports Council) in 2021, padel has 96,543 player licenses, compared to 80,318 for tennis, highlighting a higher percentage of female licenses: 32.2% compared to 29.9% for tennis. 

Already this summer, the FEP, with its 18 autonomous federations in Spain, announced that it would reject any interference by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) in padel and thereby show support to the existing governing body of FIP.