Spanish players in strike threat

Spain’s players’ association is asking the Spanish league not to play a regular-season match in the United States, and wouldn’t rule out a strike if its demands on that and other issues aren’t met.

Captains of the top-flight clubs met yesterday in Madrid and said they are against the unilateral decision to take league matches outside of Spain, something that could happen as early as this season as part of La Liga’s new 15-year deal to promote football in North America and boost its image abroad.

Association president David Aganzo said the league should have consulted with the players before making “the business decision” to play in the US, adding that the footballers “are not for sale”.

“The players are outraged. They are against these decisions that are being made unilaterally, especially the one about playing matches outside of Spain,” Aganzo said. “We are willing to go to the end. The players don’t think only about money, they also think about their health and about the fans.”

The association said the players agreed to take a more drastic action if a deal can’t be reached.

“If by the end of September or early October [a solution can’t be found], wewillhavetotakeaction,” Aganzo said. Asked directly about the possibility of a strike, Aganzo said he couldn’t rule it out. He said a meeting with La Liga president Javier Tebas is scheduled for next month.

The league announced its plans to play a match in the US last week. Although it said the first game could still happen this season, it did not say which teams would be involved. The move is part of La Liga’s attempt to expand internationally as it tries to keep pace with the English Premier League.

Aganzo said the league’s decision to play in the US was the final straw. The players also complained about late kick-offs and about games being played on Friday and Monday nights, which they said was done to accommodate viewers in different time zones abroad.