Serie A Players Threaten to Go on Strike

Serie A player’s have threatened to go on strike if a new collective contract is not signed before the season begins later this month from August 27. This decision from the players came forward following the proposal that would let club to force any player who is no longer wanted to train away from first team or accept transfer.

The last agreement, the players and the league organizers signed, expired in June 2010 and the conflict has been going on since then. Two deadlines set by the players last season were avoided by last minute verbal agreement.

The document signed by players’ association president Damiano Tommasi, as well as club captains and some other players on Sunday asks the league organizers to sign a version of the contract they signed in May.

“Without the collective contract signed it’s not possible to begin the new season,” reads the document. Responding to that, Serie A President Maurizio Beretta gave a hope saying that the collective contract could be sign at the next league assembly in August 19.

“A strike wouldn’t have any sense and there are good chances of closing a deal,” Beretta said Monday. “The real problem we need to deal with is the organization of training. That’s the most urgent point. There are technical modifications to be made.” 

“A strike would leave everything unchanged as it is today and would only end up damaging the (sport),” Beretta told Italy’s Sky TV. “We just need to take this last step. We’re 90 percent in agreement.” 

Beretta however appeared doubtful to agree with the issue of players no longer wanted by the clubs. “A lot of squads have a high number of players,” Beretta said. “Managers should have the possibility of arranging the workload. That seems like a logical position to me.”