Players have stated that they will boycott the Premier Padel competition in Gijon, which has caused chaos. The players have persisted in their protest despite last-minute attempts by Premier Padel and the International Padel Federation (FIP) to settle the dispute.
None of the top 50 players registered for the tournament after the player registration deadline on February 14, 2025. The number of tournaments used to determine rankings, participation in the CUPRA FIP Tour, and the size of P1 tournament draws are some of the issues the players have with the circuit that have prompted their boycott.
On February 13, 2025, Premier Padel and the FIP had scheduled a meeting with the players in an attempt to resolve these concerns. They committed to negotiating the players’ demands and pledged to draft a paper during this meeting. Nevertheless, the players chose to go ahead with the boycott in spite of these guarantees.
Premier Padel may be impacted by sponsorship deals, investments, and even the sport’s reputation with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as a result of the boycott. The organizers have voiced their displeasure and are thinking about taking the players to court.
The boycott has also affected Gijon, the city that was supposed to host the competition. Although they are renegotiating the conditions of their sponsorship with the organizers, the municipal council and the Municipal Sports Board have confirmed that the event will still happen.
Finding a solution that pleases the players and the organizers will be the main goal as the scenario develops. The boycott draws attention to the persistent conflicts in professional padel and the necessity of candid communication and teamwork to secure the development and prosperity of the sport.