There are spectacular points, memorable finals, and enduring rivalries. And then there are those rare moments that permanently change a sport. In the history of padel, one particular action continues to fuel debate, misunderstanding, and nostalgia. An action now forbidden, but long permitted, which has become, over time, legendary.  the biggest regulatory controversy padel has ever seen .

A legal gesture that has become a symbol

The scene takes place in 2018, during a tournament of the World Padel Tour In Alicante, two players are off the court after a drop shot. In a reflex as instinctive as it is calculated,  Fernando Belasteguín  chooses not to return the ball back into play, but to aim directly at his opponent,  Federico Chingotto , located outside the court.

The ball touches the body. The point is awarded.

At the time,  the regulations allow it As long as the ball is struck correctly and the opponent is in play, touching a player off the court is not penalized. The action is spectacular, unexpected, and perfectly legal. It triggers laughter, applause… and discomfort.

A rule little known to the general public

This point highlights a grey area in modern padel. Unlike tennis, padel allows rallies outside the court boundaries. But for a long time,  no clear regulatory protection existed for players outside the cage .

The result: aiming for the body became a real tactical option, especially in extreme situations. Rare, but possible. Too possible, according to some.

For purists, this freedom was part of padel's DNA, a sport of improvisation, instinct, and creativity. For others, it introduced unnecessary risk, even going against the spirit of the game.

Do you know the cazadora This shot, as rare as it is spectacular in padel

Security against spectacle

The controversy is growing with the increasing media coverage of padel. Images are circulating. Debates are taking hold. Several coaches and players are mentioning...  obvious risks of injury , particularly to the face or neck, in situations where players no longer have any means of protecting themselves.

Gradually, the issue goes beyond a simple, spectacular point:
 Should everything be allowed in the name of the show? 

The institutional response came a few years later.

The rule change

The International Federation of Padel slice. From now on,  It is strictly forbidden to intentionally touch an opponent who is outside the playing area. even if the ball is still in play. The point is automatically lost.

The decision is motivated by  security reasons but also by a desire to clarify the regulations and avoid any dangerous interpretation.

This change marks a turning point. It definitively eliminates the possibility of seeing this type of point again in official competition.

A lingering nostalgia

Even today, when images of that point resurface, reactions remain mixed. Some see it as a moment of genius, a reflection of a freer, more instinctive style of padel. Others point out that a professional sport cannot evolve without a clear framework.

What is certain is that this action has left a lasting mark. It symbolizes an era, a padel in transition, still searching for a balance between  spectacle, creativity and safety .

More than just a point, this action contributed to the evolution of international regulations. It raised a central question that padel continues to grapple with today:
How far can innovation go on the track without endangering the players?

This is why this sequence remains, to this day,  the most significant regulatory controversy in the history of padel .

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.

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