SquashTalk> Columns> The Spin > Denmark Takes Aim at PSA [last update was 1-may-02 ]

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Biting the Hand that Feeds:

Denmark Squash Attacks PSA, Accuses PSA Pros of Bad Behavior and Attitude

... Two Sides to the Story: Pros Caught in the Middle

DENMARK TAKES AIM AT PROFESSIONAL SQUASH ASSOCIATION (PSA) © 2002 SquashTalk.com
by Ron Beck (Ron Beck is the editor of SquashTalk and spent five years on the WPSA pro tour)

The Danish Squash Federation president, Oluf Jørgensen, has published an open letter to the squash world, sharply criticizing the Professional Squash Association's conduct and some of its players. In his communication, Jørgensen strongly suggests that Denmark will be restricting its Pro events to WISPA events in the future. Jørgensen's concern centers around the attitude of PSA players towards sponsors, organizers, and spectators. Jørgensen hastens to add he's not talking about the top players. "I'm not talking about Peter Nicol, Simon Parke, Jonathon Power or any of the top pros. Its the second echelon pros that are coming to events held in small places like Odense and demanding unreasonable perks."

"Denmark is a small country," Jørgensen told SquashTalk today, " And the players seem to think they are in a big metropolis, complaining about everything - the accommodations, the food, and more."

Jørgensen was particularly incensed that none of the players were willing to referee and the local tournament chairman had to referee a match. (Note: The PSA players agreement specifically obligates the players to referee matches when asked)

Jørgensen commented in his open letter, "The PSA members [at this year's Odense Danish Open] with some exceptions obviously but by and large arrogant and ungrateful – I don `t know if the club will mention any names – if not I can come up with a couple. Most of them were very reluctant to act as referees although it would clearly be in their own interest to do so. Very few were present at the final, except for the 2 players who had to be there to collect their money after the game.

"The attitude of the PSA members [present in Denmark] reflected very clearly the attitude that PSA has shown to World Squash [as evidenced in Melbourne and in news reports of meetings about the British Open in Qatar] and the result will inevitably be that there will be a limit to PSA members from here and certainly to PSA competitions as far as Danish Squash is concerned."

PLAYERS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE

The professional players are caught squarely in the middle of this dispute. Aspiring and established players alike incur high travel costs (not to mention wear and tear on their bodies) as they appear in events around the globe. They provide great entertainment at the tournament venues, and in the cases of low-ranking pros, struggling to qualify for main draws in satellite events, if they fail to qualify they have played two hard matches, traveled long distances, paid their own travel, and received ZERO prize money for their efforts. In many cases, the quarter-finalists and semifinalists struggle to break even on their travel costs in small events.

So their position is partially understandable. It appears that where the PSA has fallen down is in providing guidance to the players in how to behave with respect to the local fans, supporters, sponsors, and organizers. WISPA, by contrast, appears to have a strong system in place, monitored by the players themselves, that self-regulates their conduct.

PRIZE PURSES UNDER PRESSURE

With difficult economic conditions around the globe, the pros see purses diminishing in many locations, especially Europe and the Far East. Meanwhile, to appear in USA events, even when several are strung together in a mini tour, travel costs for the European-based pros are prohibitive.

One of the PSA's central role is to promote professional events such that the attractiveness of the events leads to steadily improving tournament calendars and prize purses. So the PSA leadership has a valid role of taking a strong stand in defense of prize money thresholds. Of course, negative publicity, of the sort engendered by the players present in Denmark harms that activity.

EUROPEAN SQUASH ASSOCIATIONS VERSUS PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

There is no doubt that some of the current complaint has a political base, and there are merits on both sides of the argument. There is an ongoing political struggle between the national associations and the pro associations in relation to control of events, ranking rules and the like. The European associations, for instance, have been trying to promote their national events and pro leagues. They would like pro league matches to count towards PSA ranking points. And they would like to protect dates of key national events. The PSA has valid reasons for not including such league matches in world ranking calculations.

Jørgensen emphasizes that one of his key issues with the PSA is their total unwillingness to come to the table and discuss any of these issues.

In an interview with SquashTalk today, Jørgensen made clear that he singles out the PSA leadership. He further stated in an open e-mail, "The reports we have seen from Doha concerning British Open makes me believe that Mr. Robert Edwards and Gawain Briars between them have decided to destroy Global Squash as a viable commercial entity." (SquashTalk was unable to reach the PSA for comment this evening, but will seek their response tomorrow)

Jorgensen was remarking on the following statements Edwards told Ravi Kumar in a Gulf Times Interview:

“If the Open registers itself as a $10,000 event then we would accept it. But players like Power and Peter Nicol would not take part in it,” said Edwards. “They would probably say ‘Thank You’ but we are not interested.” “The PSA will put the issue before the promoters during the next board meeting in June in London. And at that time we’ll discuss the PSA’s involvement with the Open.” Edwards firmly ruled out any more concessions to the Open. “No. There are no concessions now available. We did it once by offering it points but now professionalism has to kick in. We did it because it is the oldest event in the world. We did it because it was having a rough time. Now it will have to stand on its own.” Edwards, however, admitted that if the PSA were to have a change of heart on this matter the players would not back it. “We encouraged the players to save the British Open. But I can tell you the players won’t do it again. They would wish it well but they will definitely not play in it as things stand now.”

PLAYERS BACK PSA LEADERSHIP

The players have so far backed the PSA leadership — making it clear that they are concerned with the pressure on prize money. Jonathon Power was reported by Ravi Kumar in the Gulf Times this week as backing the PSA's position concerning lowered prize money at the British Open. Power was quoted as saying, . “I was very vocal at the meeting on Monday night [In Qatar]. The PSA in a sense forced me to play [The British Open] by offering big points while the prize-money was next to nothing,” said the Canadian. “I can’t risk losing the points because I am a professional.”

JORGENSEN DECIDES TO STAND UP.

Jørgensen decided to bring this dispute, which has largely played out in the shadowy back hallways of the national associations and PSA, into the open.

Jørgensen remarked by e-mail, "Whether it is possible to [improve the situation with the PSA] I don't know but since I have nothing at all to lose - I am only happy to carry the torch in the hope the rest of the squash world will wake up - if they can be bothered."

Jorgensen adds, "As far as I can see the problem for the lower ranked players will be that USD 5.000.00 to USD 20.000 tournaments in Countries like Scandinavia, Germany etc will disappear because PSA has refused to co operate with National Organizations. There will still be the global event for US$ 50.000.00 attracting the top starts but in the long run it should be the objective that every Country should have competitions where players could earn money for the global ranking list.

"A global ranking list is the biggest marketing tool for the game and can create a global brand value with very little additional effort. I am a member of The Championship Committee for ESF and we have offered to take part in a project to that effect - WISPA are prepared to enter into a dialogue - but PSA has refused to event talk to WSF or ESF for that matter."