¡Ay, caramba!
We’ve heard of footballers going on strike but tonight’s news from Spain is a new departure for football in our lifetime at least. This evening the Spanish football federation,the RFEF, has announced that it will be looking for its members to strike over a dispute with the government concerning TV rights.
The proposed strike will begin on May 16th and if it goes ahead will mean the deferral of the Copa Del Rey final as well as the last two rounds of La Liga.
The dispute is believed to centre on clubs being unhappy with proposals by the government to see a more fairer distribution of TV money to all clubs and not just Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Currently the big two get 50% of the loot generated through TV deals, but the new proposal wants to see all clubs share equally in that revenue
In a statement issued this evening by RFEF president Angel Maria Villar, the association are firm that they will pull all football activity unless a solution can be found and say that the players association is also behind a proposed strike,
‘Problems with amateur football have not been resolved and there were no efforts made by the Minister of Education, Culture and Sports to find a solution during the last three months.’
‘This attitude, together with the contents of the law, have been considered by the board of directors of the RFEF as a lack of respect and consideration towards the governing body of the whole of Spanish football, which has been ignored and negated by the government of Spain.’
‘At the same time, and yet again, we reiterate the offer of dialogue to the Spanish government.’
The possible strike would affect up to 600,000 players and almost 30,000 matches.
H/T to Goal.com
