Serie A players to go on strike

[Lineker]

Serie A's top stars are to go on strike on 11 and 12 December, the Italian Players' Association (AIC) has said.

The walkout follows a dispute between the AIC - the players' union - and Lega Calcio over a new collective contract.

Fixtures due to be held on the affected weekend include Lazio's trip to Juventus and Roma against Bari.

The strike follows a rejection by the top-flight clubs to reopen talks about a new contract, which lays down basic rights of players.

The agreement had expired in the summer and the AIC said players would strike if a new one was not reached by 30 November.

Serie A president Maurizio Beretta was furious after the last-ditch talks failed but said he hoped the walkout would be called off.

"Today's meeting was incredible, without precedence in history," Beretta stated.

"The union refused to listen to the intervention of the federation president, which included the issue of players outside the squad. At that point they got up from the table and left."

AIC vice-president Leonardo Gross had earlier stated: "The strike has been called for 11 and 12 December. We are very sad because there was a willingness to find an agreement."

The union is unhappy with Lega Calcio's demands that teams' unwanted players must train away from their first-team squads and accept transfers even when they are under contract.

A strike had originally been planned for September but was called off to allow more time for talks.

Italian football in mind-boggling.

[METALMAN]

If this pattern with referees in Scotland and now players in Italy is fully extrapolated, we will soon see English pundits and commentators going on strike. That would be nice.

[Pesci]

If this pattern with referees in Scotland and now players in Italy is fully extrapolated, we will soon see English pundits and commentators going on strikes. That would be nice.

Christ, let's hope so.

[Colly]

I hope they draft in Luxembourgian replacements for the games affected, worth watching if its on ESPN.