The start of the Spanish season looks set to be delayed after talks to avert strike action for this weekend's opening fixtures on Wednesday 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 on Wednesday 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 La Liga 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.
Astiazaran added: "There are big differences (between the sides), but we will have to continue moving forward.
"We've reached our limit, we cannot give more than we have."
Luis Gil, representing the AFE, said: "We will work on moving our positions closer this afternoon, tomorrow and in Friday's meeting.
"The biggest problem is the players want pay guarantees because there are more than 200 who are owed money. We're claiming their rights and their contracts, nobody here is asking for money.
"At this time, the AFE are not planning to extend the strike beyond the second round of matches. Clubs who don't pay should be relegated."
more..
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 on Wednesday 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 La Liga 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.
Astiazaran added: "There are big differences (between the sides), but we will have to continue moving forward.
"We've reached our limit, we cannot give more than we have."
Luis Gil, representing the AFE, said: "We will work on moving our positions closer this afternoon, tomorrow and in Friday's meeting.
"The biggest problem is the players want pay guarantees because there are more than 200 who are owed money. We're claiming their rights and their contracts, nobody here is asking for money.
"At this time, the AFE are not planning to extend the strike beyond the second round of matches. Clubs who don't pay should be relegated."
more..
