Spanish football at the centre of attention; LFP powerless as AFE strike continues - La Liga Special
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Spain-c3011 have been the centre of footballing world following their Euro 2008 win, and the 2010 FIFA World Cup only added manifolds to the trophy cabinet. FC Barcelona’s larger than life performances at the club level have helped in improving the profile of
the country’s league, with players and fans flocking to fill the stadia. However, the country is at the centre stage once again with players’ strike continuing to derail the league off their planned schedule.
The Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) wants greater protection for player wages at clubs which do not have secure financial futures. Many clubs playing in the two top divisions are suffering from financial problems and have failed to pay wages to
the players. Over 200 players have not been paid their wages in the last 12 months. Around 50 million Euros are owed to the players, and this makes LFP’s 40 million Euros emergency fund proposal fall some way short of requirements.
In the wake of these developments, the league has been delayed for the next two match-days as the two parties involved could not reach an agreement. The announcement was made by Luis Rubiales, President of AFE, with over 100 professional players in attendance.
Luminaries http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Santi-Cazorla-c32505 were seen in the front rows, protesting with their fellow players.
LFP has accepted provisions unilaterally and s decided to make a fund by 2015, which will make sure players wages are paid out in case of clubs facing financial problems. But with the players association not wanting a repeat of the current circumstances,
negotiations are still far from over.
AFE does not want mitigation measures but has proposed a system to deal with the situation. The proposal put forward is already in place in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/England-c749 and Holland, which can seamlessly work with the mitigation measures. The player’s union wants that
the clubs to be ruled out of their respective competitions if they fail to make the wage payments.
Spain has been hit hard by the double dip recession and is still reeling from its effects. The situation would have been under control had there not been such a huge disparity among the clubs, but unfortunately such is the case. Around half of the television
revenue goes to Barcelona and Real Madrid, who both have the same number of supporters in the total Spanish football fan base.
For the moment the league is postponed and the time period can increase if the demands of AFE are not met. Spanish clubs, having a well documented history of financial problems, are unwilling to accept the demands put forward. However, with the ensuing strike
there will be no clubs in the league if things fail to change for the good. Jose Luis Astiazaran, President of LFP, looks optimistic ahead of the new rounds of dialogue between the concerned parties. The president is looking for ways to get around the second
match day strike as he wants a result in the next round of negotiations.
Players do not have to suffer because of the mismanagement from the backroom. Better rationing of television revenues will have to be done as the unequal distribution of the income is a major cause of the whole debacle. For the sake of players, fans and
the clubs a swift resolution to end the strike should be found, as it will add to problems with Euro 2012 starting in early June next year.
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