Spanish league players will go on strike and boycott the start of the new season if a new collective bargaining agreement is not signed.
Spanish Football Players Association (AFE) head Luis Rubiales made the announcement at a news conference Thursday, backed by around 100 players representing all 42 clubs in the top two divisions. Barcelona captain Carles Puyol and Real Madrid pair Iker Casillas and Xabi Alonso all attended, along with fellow Spain internationals Fernando Llorente, Javi Martinez and Santi Cazorla.
''It's a very difficult situation and at this point I don't think we'll play,'' said Casillas, the Madrid captain.
Rubiales was firm and blunt when repeatedly asked about the chances of league play starting up on Aug. 20 as scheduled.
''The league will not start until there is a collective bargaining agreement signed between the AFE and the league (LFP),'' the former player turned union head said of action that would affect games in the topflight and second division.
Rubiales said about 200 players will be owed a total of ?50 million ($71 million) by the start of the new season, up from ?12 million ($17 million) to about half as many players last year. Players are worried that clubs will not be able to make the payments, and negotiations over a new labor agreement have been ongoing since the end of May.
''Players aren't being paid,'' Casillas said. ''I think you have to show solidarity with those who are in a tough spot, and the numbers show it.''
The LFP said in a statement it didn't ''understand'' the strike threat as it believed progress in negotiations was being made.
''The decision to call a strike at a moment when we're making fundamental steps forward is incomprehensible,'' the LFP said in a statement.
There are six insolvent clubs in Spain's 20-team topflight division. Clubs opting for bankruptcy protection are not docked points or relegated in Spain.
''It's hard to understand how a country that is world champion and top of Europe is enduring this situation,'' said Leo Grosso, the president of the worldwide players' union FIFPro. ''Maybe the economic situation of the country isn't helping, but minimal conditions must be met.''
Italy's Serie A is in a similar situation, after captains of all 20 clubs signed a document warning that players would strike if a new collective contract was not signed before the scheduled start on Aug. 27-28.
