The conflict in the National Basque ball uploaded another step last weekend when the exclusion of La Rioja del Recrni, one of the most prestigious regional tournaments of the calendar, which is celebrated every year facing Pelotaris de Guipúzcoa, Álava, Álava, Álava, is confirmed, Álava, Álava, … Vizcaya, Navarra, Iparralde (French Basque Country) and, until now, the aforementioned La Rioja.
The decision was made by the Basque Federation, organizer of the tournament, and is motivated by the refusal of the Riojans to uncheck the appeal presented by the Spanish Federation before the TAS against the incorporation of the first as a member of the International Federation. This resolution, approved with controversy on December 28, is the one that has challenged the Spanish, and must still be validated by the Superior Sports Council.
The International Federation threatened Spain to expel it as a member if it did not withdraw that resource, which has led the Basque Federation to do the same in the record with Navarra and La Rioja, two regional federations that remain under the umbrella of the Spanish Federation.
The pressures and communications followed each other throughout last week until they reached the final decision. The Rioja was left out after refusing its president, Juan José Belmonte, to fold to the demands of the Basque Federation. «The request to take a clear position was not successful. Consequently, and following the criteria established by the FIPV, we were obliged not to allow their participation, ”they explained from Basque in a statement.
Instead, the Navarre Pelotaris was allowed to compete. «After exposing the context in which we are, they showed understanding and disposition to dialogue. As a result, they made public statements that have been well received, which has confirmed that it will allow their participation in the tournament ». Reference was made there to a few words from Andrea Lusarreta, president of the Navarra Federation, in which he urged the Spanish Federation to “look forward” and that of the Basque Country not to extend “the international conflict to the local level.” At the same time, he acknowledged that Euskadi “has a legitimate claim, protected by law and with broad social support.”
There is the circumstance that Lusarreta has replaced this year in the presidency of the Navarra Federation to Javier Conde, after he has become the new president of the Spanish and, therefore, the main promoter and defender of the appeal before the TAs.
The decision of the Basque Federation breaks with the request for dialogue launched by the CSD last week through these pages and has also found a response from the Spanish Federation, which insists that its appeal brief before the TAS is not a complaint, much less criminal. «It cannot be considered that a constructive agreement is based on lies and falsehoods. Nor can it be built from threat and coercion ».
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