In the midst of endless talks to convince
Kylian Mbappe
to renew his contract with
Paris Saint Germain
and not sign for
Real Madrid
,
Nasser Al-Khelaifi
has plenty of time for other business.
At
48 years old
, the Qatari combines the position of president of
PSG
with that of the head of the
ECA
, the
Association of European Clubs
, but also with other obligations within sport but outside of football.
Among them, some related to the sport he loves: tennis.
Al-Khelaifi, who played 43
Davis Cup matches
between 1992 and 2002, is the vice president of the
Asian Tennis
Federation , governs the
Qatari Federation
and is the president of
Qatar Sports Investments
,
QSI
, the company from which almost all sports projects in the country.
And it is from there, precisely, where a schism was caused that has dynamited the current situation in the
world of paddle tennis
, one of the sports that has grown the most in recent years in Spain and Europe.
During the last few months, Al-Khelaifi and his entourage, together with the
International Padel Federation
(FIP) chaired by the Italian
Luigi Carraro
, have developed and launched a new world circuit independent of the well-known
World Padel Tour
, with more money in prizes, "better conditions", they defend and greater media exposure.
"
It's a change for the better
," assures EL MUNDO
Miguel Semmler
, member of the Players Association, where the main stars of this sport are, such as
Juan Lebrón, Ale Galán or Fernando Belasteguín
.
All of them have 'signed' for the new circuit, in which they plan to play this season while they combine it with the World Padel Tour calendar, with which they have
a mandatory contract until 2023
and which is currently in court with the FIP for accusations of monopoly.
Will tennis eat paddle tennis?
In summary,
two different and independent circuits
that distribute points for their respective rankings, thousands of euros at stake, many cities to visit and, on the horizon, the "fear" in certain sectors of padel that tennis, whose federations have special relationship with Al-Khelaifi, keep his entire market.
"
It's exactly the same thing that happened with soccer and futsal
. The first stayed with the second to let it grow only up to a point," criticizes
José Luis Amoroto
, president of the
Madrilenian Padel Federation
, who denounces that behind the organization of some of the tests of the new circuit are the
Tennis Federations of Italy, France and England
, referring to the tournaments to be held in Rome, Paris and London.
"Paddle tennis does not need tennis, but there are so many economic interests that nobody says anything," he questions, in conversation with this newspaper.
It is a double war in which much remains to be fought.
The sides are clear.
On the one hand,
Al-Khelaifi, QSI, the International Padel Federation and the main stars
of the circuit, with the support of some Tennis Federations.
And on the other,
World Padel Tour, with the Spanish company Damm
behind, which is supported
by part of the minor players
, that is, those beyond 20 in the world ranking, those who have not had direct contact with Al-Khelaifi.
"It's not a matter of money"
In the last
World Cup
held in
Doha
in November, with the victory of
Spain
, everything was closed.
As this newspaper has been able to confirm, the sheikh contacted some of the best players to make
private exhibitions
and took the opportunity to close the agreements for the new circuit.
His promise: half a million euros to be distributed in the
four Grand Slams
of this first season, which will have a total of
ten events
.
An "unfeasible" figure for the World Padel Tour, they comment from the organization's environment, but to which they have tried to get as close as possible.
In the last Final Master in December they distributed more than 100,000 euros.
"
It is not a question of money
", insists Miguel Semmler.
"In the new circuit we will be participants in the decisions, not like in the World Padel Tour. And that the Federation is involved is important.
In Qatar they see that professional padel is stagnant
, Al-Khelaifi has been a tennis player, has been in our skin and feels identified", he adds, and puts the focus on the "dream" of many players.
"
We want to be Olympic
and we believe that this is how we can achieve it."
"With all this, the
World Padel Tour will disappear
," they lament from the organization's environment, which is still in court with the FIP.
As EL MUNDO learned,
Al-Khelaifi and QSI
, who are working to launch their circuit at the end of March at the
Doha ATP
facilities and have announced an agreement to broadcast the matches through
ESPN in America
, have promised to pay all the economic fines to the stars who do not play a World Padel Tour tournament.
It is the other dream of the sheikh.
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