Insular Council aces Boris Becker over his Arta farmhouse

German tennis star Boris Becker said that he was not trying to curry favour over his Majorcan property when he met the leader of the Insular Council of Majorca to discuss a tennis school for the island and the Insular Council's planning department certainly has not done the former Wimbledon champion any favour. The planning commission has voted unanimously against legalising Becker's Arta farmhouse on the grounds that the development exceeds the 500 square metre limit. The Insular Council suffered a major knock back last week when its building freeze was overruled by the Palma High Court. The department has thrown the book at Becker who could also face a fine of as much as 50 million pesetas, as well as having to cover the costs of reducing the size of the development. Ironically, this could mean him losing his tennis court. The chairman of the Insular Council planning commission, Rafael de Lacy, admitted that there is always the risk of forcing Becker to leave the island “but we are not dealing with people, we are dealing with the management of land.” Becker can however appeal the decision, but on his visit to meet the President of the Insular Council, Maria Atonia Munar, he said that he intends to resolve the situation within the law. Either way, the ruling will come as another blow to Becker who has undergone a troubled few months.