The players of the Spanish Championship choose not to participate: “The incentive is a lack of respect”

MADRID, 23 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The members of the women’s team of the 2021 Spanish Padel Championship, which is held from October 24 to 31 at the WiZink Center in Madrid, have decided not to participate in the contest after learning that some male players will receive an economic incentive for playing the tournament .

“A large number of paddle tennis players registered in the 2021 Spanish Paddle Championship, have learned that certain paddle tennis players have been offered an economic compensation for their participation in the aforementioned championship, which is not included in the official endowment of the championship “, they indicate in a statement published this Saturday.

The players consider that “it has not been offered or proposed to the players participating in the competition.” “Put in contact with the Spanish Paddle Federation, it has expressed its ignorance of these facts, indicating that it has delegated the organization of the championship to a private company, and that in its case it is said company that has carried out this reprehensible practice”.

“Considering the majority of the group of female players that this way of acting involves engaging in practices that lack the respect and consideration of paddle tennis players and are contrary to the principle of equality, they have decided not to participate in the aforementioned Competition, regretting that outside behaviors The values ​​and principles of the sport are deprived of paddle tennis, all those who support this sport, and the fans of their participation in this Championship “, they add.

As a result of this decision, the CEO of Urban Event, the organizing body of the 2021 Spanish Paddle Championship, Pedro San Román, has resigned through a statement. “I want to express my regret for the discomfort that an organizational error has caused in the group of participating players and offer my sincere apologies,” he said.

“The sole purpose of this measure was to ensure the participation of the highest ranked players and thus further increase the attractiveness and visibility of the tournament. Without being aware of it, this initiative has been understood as a comparative grievance by the rest of the group. of participating players, which I directly assume as an error of the organization and, therefore, I apologize to all the people and entities affected, “he adds in his statement.