The Italian Players' association (AIC) have warned they will follow their Spanish counterparts in striking unless a new collective contract is signed before the start of the Serie A season this weekend.

Last week, the opening weekend of fixtures in La Liga were suspended after negotiations between players and clubs regarding wage guarantees collapsed.

And Serie A could be heading in the same direction after representatives from all 20 Serie A clubs met on Monday to reaffirm their demand for the league to sign a new agreement.

"We reiterate our position,'' players' association president Damiano Tommasi said. "If the contract is signed, we will play on Saturday or Sunday. Otherwise, we will stay at home. There is time as on Wednesday the league will meet.''

The AIC said the league has still not signed an agreement reached with the players last year after intense negotiations, during which strikes were twice narrowly averted. An old collective agreement expired at the end of the 2009-10 campaign and talks for its renewal continued throughout last season.

The AIC was especially unhappy about clubs trying to force players to move in the last year of their contracts.

JuvenelCuore wrote:

The Italian Players' association (AIC) have warned they will follow their Spanish counterparts in striking unless a new collective contract is signed before the start of the Serie A season this weekend.

Last week, the opening weekend of fixtures in La Liga were suspended after negotiations between players and clubs regarding wage guarantees collapsed.

And Serie A could be heading in the same direction after representatives from all 20 Serie A clubs met on Monday to reaffirm their demand for the league to sign a new agreement.

"We reiterate our position,'' players' association president Damiano Tommasi said. "If the contract is signed, we will play on Saturday or Sunday. Otherwise, we will stay at home. There is time as on Wednesday the league will meet.''

The AIC said the league has still not signed an agreement reached with the players last year after intense negotiations, during which strikes were twice narrowly averted. An old collective agreement expired at the end of the 2009-10 campaign and talks for its renewal continued throughout last season.

The AIC was especially unhappy about clubs trying to force players to move in the last year of their contracts.

It has been a long time waiting since May, honestly hope this does not happen because I cannot wait.

mezzogiornese wrote:They should play the youth teams instead.

I think footballers striking is pretty daft, they aren't exactly bad jobs where you are demeaned every day and your boss isn't paying you.

mezzogiornese wrote:They should play the youth teams instead.

I think footballers striking is pretty daft, they aren't exactly bad jobs where you are demeaned every day and your boss isn't paying you.

JuvenelCuore wrote:
But it is very sad, but at the same time I do not understand what players have to complain about.

The Franchise wrote:
From what I understand, they are striking because they want the right to leave clubs who dont pay their wages for 3 months. That to me seems pretty fair.

JuvenelCuore wrote:
But it is very sad, but at the same time I do not understand what players have to complain about.