La Liga clubs oppose planned strike

MADRID - Six of Spain's top-flight clubs have broken ranks and filed a legal challenge aimed at stopping the professional football league (LFP) from postponing a round of matches next month over a dispute with the government.

Published

23 March 2011

The LFP wants Spain's Socialist administration to scrap a rule that one La Liga game per matchday should be shown on free television, arguing the move would strengthen clubs' bargaining power in negotiations on audiovisual rights with media firms.

It also wants guarantees about how much cash it is entitled to receive from betting and lottery revenue.

The league, which represents first and second division clubs, has the backing of the Spanish football federation (RFEF) but six of 20 clubs in the first division - Sevilla, Villarreal,latest talks between league officials, the government and parliamentary groups had failed to produce any progress and it stood by its decision to strike.

The league has said the free game will not necessarily be dropped but it wants the obligation to show it to be removed.

An LFP spokesman said on Wednesday it respected the position of each of its members but would stick to the decision taken at a meeting last month to postpone games unless the government backs down.

Jaime Lissavetzky, secretary of state for sport, appealed for "common sense" and noted a television media law had been voted through a year ago without any of the political groups raising objections.

Speaking at an event in Madrid on Wednesday, he indicated he was "ready to listen and talk" to