Spanish players to go on strike

Football players from Spain’s top two divisions, including millionaires like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, have decided to go on strike at the start of the season, the head of the Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) announced yesterday.

The decision was taken after the AFE and the Professional Football League (LFP), which represents clubs in the two divisions, failed to reach a deal on wage guarantees for clubs that go insolvent, Luis Rubiales told a news conference.

“Footballers from the first and second divisions have taken the responsible, firm and unanimous decision to go on strike on the two first match days of the football season which starts on August 20.

“This does not mean that we are dropping all dialogue. We will continue with it for the good of the footballers and for the good of football, but the league will not begin until a new agreement is signed,” the AFE chairman said.

The players are in disagreement with the LFP over unpaid salaries by some indebted clubs.

“We condemn the failure of clubs to fulfil contracts they have signed with the players. Every day there are more. Fifty million euros, more than 200 footballers were involved over the years.

“The situation is deplorable. The values of sport have not been respected, the players cannot be asked to do more. Footballers don’t want more money, we want to fulfil our contracts, to cover debts and we all want to enjoy football in a healthy competitive environment.”

Rubiales was surrounded by about 100 players, including Spain captain Iker Casillas and other internationals such as Carles Puyol, Xabi Alonso, Fernando Llorente and Santi Cazorla.

Various Spanish clubs have financial problems and have had trouble paying their players in recent months.

First division side Racing Santander went into bankruptcy protection in July with debts that included unpaid wages of €11.2 million, just months after they were bought by Bahrain-based Indian tycoon Ahsan Ali Syed.

Champions Barcelona are scheduled to kick off their title defence away to Malaga on August 21.