Abete: Serie A games must go ahead

Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Giancarlo Abete is optimistic a compromise can be reached to prevent a strike from Serie A players on the weekend of September 25-26.

Abete is acting as arbitrator in the dispute between the Italian Players’ Association (AIC) and the Lega Calcio, with talks starting today in Rome.

The AIC members are unhappy the Lega Calcio have not renewed the collective bargaining agreement which expired in June.

A strike was announced on Friday but Abete is confident that can be averted through negotiation.

He said today: “We must find an agreement. I think over the last few hours we have received positive signs that we can avoid the strike and ensure the games go ahead.”

Lega Calcio chief Maurizio Beretta added: “I think the talks will give us the opportunity to understand each other and strike a deal.

“But we need to ensure the economic sustainability of the model; costs and revenues must be equal.”

AIC boss Sergio Campana dismissed suggestions of player greed. The players’ action has in some quarters been labelled a “strike of millionaires” but Campana dismissed that as “inappropriate”.