Italian Football Federation president Giancarlo Abete is hopeful the 2011-12 Serie A season will get under way this month without any further delay.

Last weekend’s opening round of matches were postponed after the Lega Serie A and the Italian Players’ Union (AIC) failed to sign a new collective bargaining agreement.

The next scheduled round of matches is due to take place after the current international break, meaning there is almost a fortnight to find a resolution.

“I need to be optimistic because the games on September 11 must be played,” said Abete.

“We have to find that spirit of union.”

The AIC are opposed to clubs being allowed to compel players to move in the last year of their contracts, and with coaches having the ability to force unwanted players to train away from the first team.

The Lega Serie A, meanwhile, want players to pay a new solidarity tax that applies to high earners.

“This strike is incredible,” said Abete.

“It is based on a problem of how to interpret article seven (unwanted players training away from first team), which has been present for 25 years.”

AIC president Damiano Tommasi believes a deal will be completed soon.

“Our intention is not to prolong the strike,” Tommasi said.

“We will only be happy when we step out on the pitch. But an agreement must be signed.”

In the meantime, Abete hopes the players’ strike will not hinder the Italy national team in their upcoming Euro 2012 qualifying matches.

Italy visit Faroe Islands on Friday before hosting Slovenia four days later in Florence.

“Italy have to play two qualifying games without our players having played a Serie A game,” Abete remarked.

“We have to try in future to be more careful from a sporting standpoint in order to make Italy more competitive.

“We cannot forget that Roma were eliminated from the Europa League last week and Udinese failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.”