Spain hit by strike - Opening weekend fixtures postponed due to dispute with players

Posted Saturday, August 20, 2011 by skysports.com

Strike action: The opening round of La Liga has been postponed because of dispute

The opening round of the Primera Liga season has been postponed because of strike action by the players.

The latest campaign in Spain was due to get under way on Saturday but authorities have been forced to shelve the schedule due to the ongoing dispute.

Negotiations between the Spanish Football League (LFP) and the country's players' union (AFE) broke down on Wednesday.

Representatives of the two organisations held a meeting in a bid to resolve the issue, which is related to wage structures in Spanish football, but failed to reach an agreement.

Very far apart

Earlier this month players in the Primera Division and Liga Adelante announced a strike in the opening two weekends of the 2011-12 season as they want a guaranteed fund to protect their wages should their clubs be pronounced insolvent.

LFP chairman Jose Luis Astiazaran said: "We put on the table today our positions, which are very far apart.

"We are concentrating now on being able to save the second day."

Further discussions between delegations representing both sides are due to be held on Saturday and again on Monday in a bid to reach an agreement.

Clubs involved in European competitions will continue playing with Villarreal facing a UEFA Champions League qualifier next week and Athletic Bilbao, Sevilla and Atletico Madrid all playing Europa League matches.