Strike threatens start of Spanish season

The start of the Spanish season looks set to be delayed after talks to avert strike action for this weekend’s opening fixtures today failed to produce an agreement.

The Spanish professional footballers’ union (AFE) announced last week that players from the top two divisions would go on strike for the opening two weeks of the 2011/12 season unless an agreement with the Liga de Futbol Profesional (LFP) was reached over a new collective bargaining agreement.

The AFE want a guaranteed fund to protect players’ wages in the event of their clubs being declared insolvent.

The AFE and LFP met in Madrid this morning but no agreement was reached and the two parties will meet again on Friday.

LFP president Jose Luis Astiazaran was quoted as saying in AS: “There is no agreement. The AFE maintain the strike for this weekend. We will meet again on Friday and, if it is necessary throughout the weekend.”

The Primera Division season was scheduled to start this weekend, with champions Barcelona going to Malaga and Real Madrid hosting Athletic Bilbao, while the Segunda Division was meant to begin on Friday night with a fixture between Villarreal B and Hercules.