The Basque ball is news. Although not in the sports sections of the newspapers, but in those of judicial and political chronicle. The decision of the International Ball Federation (FIPV) to recognize as a full member to Euskadi in the late 2024 and consecrate in passing to his selection, opening the doors of the official tournaments, he has generated A huge hangover that reaches far beyond the pediment and shakes Sport (and politics) national.
The stage has been complicated over the last months that the pelotari face an unusual scenario right now: The rupture between the FIPV and its Spanish counterpart (Fepelota) and the possibility that this spring will be held in Gernika participate in the Cup of Nations Basque representatives, but not Spanish.
To understand the earthquake that is shaking the Basque ball inside and outside Spain you have to go back a few years ago. Enough. Recently Javier Conde, the new president of Fepelotahe said to brand that we would have to look at 23 years ago and the departure of the Basque Federation (EEPF) of the Spanish (fepelota), which right now brings together A dozen of regional organizations and a delegate.
A decision with hangover
It is not necessary to go back so back. The spark that has lit the controversy among the pelotaris is much more recent, of the December 28, 2024when the International Federation (FIPV) decided to recognize the EEPF as a member, formalizing the Basque team and allowing its participation in official tournaments. Among other sites, the news It was celebrated In the PNV offices, but all Spanish sport (and politics) did not like.
The Spanish Ball Federation did not take long to cross out what happened “Nationalist outrage” and accused the FIPV of breaking its own regulation. In A statement Rotundo denounced that the agreement was “vitiated in full” and was managed with “a irregular and opaque procedure“. Among other issues they denounced that Spain had been excluded in a” irregular “way, through” hurried disciplinary sanctions “that allowed the doors to be opened to the EEPF.” Otherwise they would have found a strong opposition. “
Fepelota did not stay in the words and complaints. In the same statement it advanced since it would resort to “ordinary justice” and the Arbitral Sports Court (TAS), a step that It soon gave. Today at the head of the Spanish Federation there are A new presidentJavier Conde, former head of the Navarrese organism; But the situation has not been weeding. On the contrary.
Throughout the last months he has taken more firewood.
A few days ago Conde He showed his desire to build bridges, but among its plans it does not happen (at least for the moment) Remove the complaint presented before the arbitral tribunal. “The CSD has asked me to paralyze the challenge in the TAS and accept a measurement, but many half truths are being said.”
“Joxemari Mitxelena, New President From the EEPF, he says that the Spanish has denounced the Basque, but it is not true. If the TAS says that the agreements approved by the FIPV on December 28 are adjusted to the law and there will be any problem, ” Count wield. “The resource that we present in Lausana what it questions is the validity of that assembly because we believe there were serious irregularities.”
“If the statutory modification that allows Basque to participate in international competitions is within the law They don’t have to be afraid to the resolution of the TAS. Maybe they know that it has not been done correctly “, He slipped The person in charge of Fepelota. In the same interview he claimed to be willing to withdraw the resource, but warned: “Before you have to sit down to talk. What they cannot pretend from the Basque and international is to press us before and mark our strategy.”
The scenario is so complex that Count himself (in the presidency for just a few months) acknowledges that he has encountered a hot potato that can have an unexpected outcome: with the Spanish federation outside the FIPV at the gates of the Nations League which will start on May 31 in Gernika-Lmo, an appointment that could be developed with the absence of Spain and the participation of the Euskadi team as a full member.
“I have been recorded, threatened, insulted and blackmail as the head of the Spanish Federation, which now has A threat of expulsion of the international ”, He confessed count Earlier this week. Everything indicates that we will not have to wait long to know how the case develops.
Yesterday a meeting was scheduled between the International Federation and the Spanish with the mediation of the CDs that It ended up suspending Because there were no expectations of advances. And today the situation could be further complicated with a snack movement of the International. The FIPV plans to gather its board of directors on Thursday and address the conflict. What could be the result? According to brandone of the options is the expulsion of the Spanish Federation.
Can the thing be further complicated? Can. The controversy around the Basque ball transcends the strictly sports or institutional scope and the politician plays fully. After all, one of the keys to the case is the Sports Law which entered into force in 2013. In its article 48.2 it is clarified that to participate in international tournaments, regional sports federations must “necessarily” integrate “into their respective state federations, although with a very significant exception.
“The Autonomous Sports Federations may participate directly in the international sphere if the corresponding International Federation contemplates its participation, in the case of sports modalities or specialties, with historical and social roots in their respective Autonomous Community,” The norm requires. Of course, it also clarifies that before the regional body must have the CSD OK.
That coletilla leaves part of the ball on the roof of the Superior Sports Council and has put its president under the spotlights, José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes, who already It has slipped that “the Basque ball has a recognition of the CSD and we will recognize it in its international projection.”
“The Basque ball is not a Spanish sport in the sense that it is practiced throughout Spain. It has to be channeled through federations that have and that have collected that sports, fundamentally that of Euskadi, but also the Navarra and Rioja. And that is what we have to do with these sports that are unique, native, which have that social, historical and cultural roots“, reason Uribe, for whom “has been dramatized in excess” on the case.
For now the controversy It has ended up splashing to other regional federations, such as Navarra and La Riojana, and generated reactions of the Spanish Sports Association (ADESP) or even the PP spokesman Borja Sémper.
The big question is … What roads will continue from now on?
Images | Alberto Cabello (Flickr) and EEPF
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