The next round of the Spanish league scheduled for April 2 and 3 was postponed Wednesday after a dispute between the topflight clubs and the government over television revenue.
The league made the announcement after ''the lack of progress'' shown in negotiations with Spanish government officials over the clubs' demand that a current law which guarantees that one match per week is broadcast on free-to-air television be revoked.
The clubs want to move to a complete pay-TV model like in the English and Italian championships, arguing they need the additional TV revenue that the extra game would provide.
The postponement would effect both the first and second division games, including front runner Barcelona's visit to third-place Villarreal and Real Madrid's game against Sporting Gijon.
All 20 topflight clubs are in agreement on revoking the law but there is a split over whether to play the next round.
While 13 clubs, including Madrid and Barcelona, voted for the strike at the last league general assembly, a minority group of clubs comprised of Sevilla, Villarreal, Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad, Espanyol and Zaragoza voted against the measure.
Spanish radio channel COPE reported that those six clubs asked a court in Madrid late Wednesday to ''suspend the decision to go on strike'' and order that the next round be played as scheduled.
''It is shameful that the Spanish league has the most unfair revenue sharing in Europe,'' said Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido. ''(But) it is not the moment, politically speaking, to make demands and, besides, it shouldn't always be the fans that pay the consequences.''
Spain's Secretary of State for Sport Jaime Lissavetzky asked the league to ''use its senses'' and said that the government was willing to continue talks.
''The ones who would be most hurt (by a strike) are the citizens and the football players,'' he said.
According to Villarreal president Fernando Roig, the postponed round would be moved to June 12, extending the league by 21 days.
While Roig said he wanted all games to be on pay TV, he was ''in complete disagreement that this position of force by adopted'' and called for more dialogue between the league and the government.
Valencia winger Juanma Mata said that the strike would be negative for the players.
''It is an issue the presidents (of the clubs) have to deal with and we hope that is solved soon because it would bring problems for the calendar,'' he said.
