What appeared to be a recreational padel tournament in Atizapán de Zaragoza, State of Mexico, ended in a brutal beating. Businessman Germán Mondragón was captured on video, along with his son, his wife Karla Mondragón, his collaborator Otón Olvera—manager of another sports club—and at least three bodyguards, attacking instructor Israel Morales Hernández, who was also participating in the tournament.
The attack occurred this weekend inside the Alfa Pádel club and quickly went viral on social media, where the attacker has already been nicknamed “Lord Pádel.”
The video, shared by journalist Carlos Jiménez, shows the attackers surrounding the victim in the middle of the court, throwing him to the ground, and repeatedly beating him, even after he was unable to defend himself. “I’m going to kill him!” Mondragón can be heard shouting, while others unsuccessfully try to stop him.
The victim was identified as a padel teacher or instructor and businessman. In a later video he posted, he recounted that the attack began over a trivial argument during a match when Otón Olvera—Mondragón’s teammate—complained about a play. The situation became tense, and shortly after, the attackers crossed the net and began hitting him.
“I throw the ball to the opponents to get them to serve, and one of them aggressively demands that I give him the ball. I tell him I didn’t hear him and get ready to defend the point. Then, his teammate serves while I’m facing away. I say, ‘What happened?’ and he starts challenging me, saying, ‘What happened, dude?’” Morales recounted in another clip.
