Bilbao, Spain – A dispute is brewing in the world of Basque paddle, a traditional sport in Spain, as players are voicing strong objections to the recent awarding of the management contract for the Frontón Bizkaia to UTE Giroa Baiko Eragin, a company linked to José Ramón Garai. The players, many formerly associated with the Innpala organization, are calling the situation a “chiringuito” – a disparaging term suggesting a rigged or improperly managed operation – and allege a lack of transparency in the process.
The controversy centers around the decision by the Biscayan Provincial Council (Diputación) to grant the three-year management contract for the Frontón Bizkaia, a key venue for the sport, to Giroa Baiko Eragin. Pablo Fusto, representing the collective of former players, stated the decision was “orchestrated and directed from interests that have nothing to do with our sport.” The Frontón Bizkaia isn’t just a court; it encompasses the Kirol Etxea (sports house), parking facilities, and surrounding urban areas, making its management a significant undertaking.
The awarding of the contract followed a complex bidding process. The Diputación’s Azpiegiturak society initially rejected a bid from UTE KTD, led by Enaitz Oleta, a former president of the Biscayan Paddle Federation, and backed by the players themselves. Azpiegiturak deemed the KTD proposal unsustainable, citing “inadequate hypotheses from a technical-economic perspective.” This decision came after Oleta’s group successfully challenged the initial scoring system twice, alleging bias.
The process was then divided into three lots: security and surveillance, maintenance and cleaning, and management, and exploitation. Both UTE KTD and Giroa Baiko Eragin submitted bids for the final lot. According to Azpiegiturak, Giroa Baiko Eragin’s economic proposal was 37.6% higher than KTD’s, prompting a request for justification. An external technical assessment was then commissioned to evaluate the viability of KTD’s lower bid. The report ultimately highlighted “a significant risk in the technical-economic viability of the UTE KTD offer,” potentially jeopardizing the contract’s execution.
The core of the players’ frustration lies with the involvement of José Ramón Garai. Until recently, Garai held the positions of manager of the Frontón Bizkaia and director of Baiko. He is currently the CEO of Pelota Pro Liga, the league governing professional Basque pelota. Players allege a conflict of interest and accuse Garai of misleading statements regarding his involvement in the bidding process.
The situation is rooted in the recent restructuring of the professional paddle landscape. Innpala, the company previously responsible for managing professional paddle, announced it would cease operations at the Frontón Bizkaia and would not participate in the new tender process. Innpala had reportedly offered the players the opportunity to assume management themselves, shortly after they began organizing a union to improve their working conditions. Josu Urkijo and Dan Necol acquired the promoter, just before the remaining players threatened an indefinite strike due to a lack of agreement.
That agreement never materialized, and Innpala’s contracts expired in January, leading to the company’s dissolution. Following the Diputación’s decision, the players publicly denounced what they describe as “the continuous lies of Garai when he said he was not going to present [a bid] and he did,” and the “complicity of both Azpiegiturak and the Department of Culture and Sports, not only for the scarce mediation in the conflict, but also for the constant favoring of the proposal presented by Garai.”
Fusto further argued that the process was riddled with irregularities, including two years of out-of-term extensions granted to the previous management although they continued to receive payment, and alleged irregular hiring practices that violated the rights of players during the strike. “After the terrible treatment we suffered while on the roster, we are not going to go through the same thing again while others line their pockets without doing anything or showing the slightest interest in paddle,” Fusto stated.
Instead of participating in a system they deem unfair, the players are now planning to take matters into their own hands. With the support of Enaitz Oleta, they intend to organize independent paddle festivals, opting to “assume risks” rather than “favor the chiringuito to continue functioning.” This move represents a significant shift in strategy, as the players seek to bypass the established structures and directly promote the sport themselves.
The Frontón Bizkaia, located in the Basque Country, has long been a central hub for the sport of paddle. The Basque Country, an autonomous community in northern Spain, has a rich sporting tradition, and paddle is deeply ingrained in its culture. The dispute over the Frontón Bizkaia’s management highlights the challenges facing traditional sports in navigating modern administrative and economic pressures. The players’ decision to forge their own path underscores their commitment to preserving the integrity of the sport and ensuring a sustainable future for Basque paddle.
The next step for the players is the organization of their first independent festival, details of which are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. The outcome of this dispute will likely have a significant impact on the future of professional paddle in the Basque Country, and the wider sporting community will be watching closely to see how this unfolds.
Stay tuned to Archysport for further updates on this developing story.
