The Italian Serie A players’ union called a strike on Tuesday for matches on Dec. 11 and Dec. 12 because of a dispute over contracts.
Following is a Q+A explaining some of the issues:
WHAT IS THE STRIKE ABOUT?
The players’ union and Serie A have been trying to sign a new collective contract, alien to some soccer nations, which guarantees basic player rights. The original deal expired in the close season and talks have dragged on without agreement.
The main stumbling block has been the league’s stance that clubs should be allowed to force unwanted players to train away from the first team or accept moves to equivalent clubs. The union says this is unfair and has called a strike. Juventus defender Fabio Grosso was dropped at the start of the season for refusing a move but was then recalled.
WHICH GAMES WILL BE AFFECTED?
Serie A fixtures over the weekend of Dec. 11 and Dec. 12.
Palermo v Parma, Udinese v Fiorentina and Genoa v Napoli on Saturday look set to be postponed, as well as Bologna v AC Milan, Brescia v Sampdoria, Cagliari v Catania, Lecce v Chievo, Roma v Bari and Juventus v Lazio on Sunday.
Inter’s home game with Cesena had already been postponed to Jan. 19 because of the European champions’ participation in this month’s Club World Cup.
WILL THE STRIKE GO AHEAD?
A first strike called for September was postponed to allow for more talks.
The union seems adamant this time that the industrial action will go ahead, but the Italian Olympic Committee’s High Court, the most powerful sporting body in the land, was to hold a hearing yesterday in a bid to solve the matter.
Several players have said they do not back strike action.
WHAT WILL THE LASTING EFFECTS OF THE STRIKE BE?
The postponement of an entire weekend’s action could cause fixture congestion later in the season if other weekends are affected by bad weather. Injury-hit Inter will already face a logjam because of the Club World Cup.
In the longer term, the bad blood between Serie A and the union is simmering, but so far there is no indication the players’ association plans more strikes.
However, talks have been going on for six months and a deal on the collective contract has not come close.
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