LA Liga players call a strike.

elmuzzy66. · 11 Aug 2011 at 13:59

The spanish footbllers union has called a two week strike and has put in serious doubt the start of the 1st and 2nd div of spanish football. Basic issues are the non payment of player salaries, which means the collective agreement between league and players hasn't been ratified. Players say the ball is the la liga's court, no pun.http://www.marca.com/2011/08/11/futbol/1313060236.html#comentarios

English link now added
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/11082011/58/la-liga-footballers-vote-strike-spain.html

Tummy · 11 Aug 2011 at 14:12

This has been growing for a while now.

Somnambulist · 17 Aug 2011 at 16:11

Still going on. Madrid and Barca have hogged about 90% of the TV money over the years between just them, with the rest of the league(s) feeding off the tiniest of scraps, meaning far less money flowing through the league and consequently far more clubs in financial difficulty.

The Running Man · 17 Aug 2011 at 17:18

So..the game tonight is still on right?

elmuzzy66. · 17 Aug 2011 at 19:38

ITs not league game.

Somnambulist · 17 Aug 2011 at 20:00

Indeed, the Supercup is the equivalent of the Community Shield here.

Robert1986 · 17 Aug 2011 at 20:22

Fab will be playing tonight.

Alex53 · 18 Aug 2011 at 07:49

Robert1986 said:
Fab will be playing tonight.

Years at Arsenal, 1 title.

10 minutes at Barca, 1 title.

Dr. Pain · 18 Aug 2011 at 07:53

LOL @ Fabregas getting chopped in half near the end, causing a near riot.

Its a shame Barca are such a bunch of cheats. Still so much rolling around and play acting, it really spoiled a great game last night.

Mourinho pulling the Barca Assistant coaches ear was a bit odd!!

Alex53 · 18 Aug 2011 at 08:05

Dr. Pain said:
LOL @ Fabregas getting chopped in half near the end, causing a near riot.

Its a shame Barca are such a bunch of cheats. Still so much rolling around and play acting, it really spoiled a great game last night.

Mourinho pulling the Barca Assistant coaches ear was a bit odd!!

Mourinho didn't just pull Tito Vilanova's ear, he poked his eye. He also pretended he didnt know who Tito was later in the press conference, basically taking the **** out of him and calling him Pito (kids word for penis in Spanish). He also gestured with his hand in front of his nose during the match as Messi walked by him as if to say he stinks (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j35LofIzooI). Messi has more integrity and more football merit in his little finger than Mourinho. No Mourinho, YOU stink.

Also, lol at Hussein family member watching it happen.

SoapSurgeon · 18 Aug 2011 at 10:23

I'm a fan of Mourinho but I have to say this is pathetic. Such a shame.

Alpherah · 18 Aug 2011 at 10:54

Dr. Pain said:
LOL @ Fabregas getting chopped in half near the end, causing a near riot.

Its a shame Barca are such a bunch of cheats. Still so much rolling around and play acting, it really spoiled a great game last night.

Mourinho pulling the Barca Assistant coaches ear was a bit odd!!

Lets be honest here. Barca have a few who love going down Drogba-esque, and are prone to a few cynical fowls to stop momentum (Xavi in the first half for example) but which team isn't?

The difference is, i've never see this Barca team go out to cause physical harm on the opposition like this Madrid team have done to Barca since Maureen came to the helm there.
Pepe's become a disgrace.. as is Marcello.
You know thing's are bad when Carvalho is one of the most honest player on that Madrid team.

Somnambulist · 18 Aug 2011 at 11:19

Pepe has been a disgrace for ages:

drunkenmaster · 18 Aug 2011 at 13:34

The strike is a bit of a joke, as in, stupid they have to but absolutely fair. Its mostly MUCH lower paid players, think Brentford level pay and the like. Collectively they are owed 58million Euro's, which for a single EPL top team would be half a years wages but for league 1/2 level pay clubs is a crapload more.

All they want is for the teams to set up a fund of 10mil euro's, barely 1/6th of what they are owed, and its basically for players who are missing mortgage payments to be able to get them paid so they don't lose their houses.

Its fair and I agree the leagues should be forced to be more reasonable. We have administration here but there they seem to basically be allowed any level of debt with no real punishment, they can just get away with not paying players due to some stupid rules.

Because of the way Real/Barca are funded and take all the tv money, they really should filter more of that money down the leagues.

Yas786 · 18 Aug 2011 at 13:37

Dr. Pain said:
LOL @ Fabregas getting chopped in half near the end, causing a near riot.

Its a shame Barca are such a bunch of cheats. Still so much rolling around and play acting, it really spoiled a great game last night.

Mourinho pulling the Barca Assistant coaches ear was a bit odd!!

Lol just lol...u must be awfully blind then...there was no theatrics from Barca, just Real couldnt finish the game so resorted to thuggery

And someone needs to knock that ugly **** Pepe's head off...disgusting player he is...waiting for the day when someone knocks him out cold.

Dr. Pain · 18 Aug 2011 at 19:37

Spawn said:
Lol just lol...u must be awfully blind then...there was no theatrics from Barca, just Real couldnt finish the game so resorted to thuggery

And someone needs to knock that ugly **** Pepe's head off...disgusting player he is...waiting for the day when someone knocks him out cold.

Sounds like you need a visit to the opticians.

Barca were rolling around all over the place, as per usual.

Even the same stuff as Buckets, going down, then looking up to see if the ref was looking.

It happened at least three times last night.

Pathetic sportsmanship, pathetic players. Shame no one can beat them at their own cheating game!

Yas786 · 18 Aug 2011 at 19:47

Dr. Pain said:
Sounds like you need a visit to the opticians.

Barca were rolling around all over the place, as per usual.

Even the same stuff as Buckets, going down, then looking up to see if the ref was looking.

It happened at least three times last night.

Pathetic sportsmanship, pathetic players. Shame no one can beat them at their own cheating game!

LOL ok dude whatever you say...ive read most of the comments in here about the match last night and your one of the very few people that have said that....tbh you just come across as a bitter Real Madrid fan

....i suppose if you saw them rolling around like you say they did, then its better than what thuggery Real got up to

...and yet you call Barca pathetic...finger needs to be pointing at Real and what they got up to. They cant and couldnt beat Barca at their own game so resorted to cynical, nasty fouls...i suppose its ok that Marcelo hacked down Fabregas intentionally eh??.

Anyhow thats what i love about Barca and Real...they really go at it hammer and tongs and seeing as Barca is the Spanish team barring Messi and Real have some spanish players ie Alonso and Ramos...it even makes it more fun that outside of La Liga they are spanish teammates

Dr. Pain · 18 Aug 2011 at 19:56

Spawn said:
LOL ok dude whatever you say...ive read most of the comments in here about the match last night and your one of the very few people that have said that....tbh you just come across as a bitter Real Madrid fan....i suppose if you saw them rolling around like you say they did, then its better than what thuggery Real got up to...and yet you call Barca pathetic...finger needs to be pointing at Real and what they got up to. They cant and couldnt beat Barca at their own game so resorted to cynical, nasty fouls...i suppose its ok that Marcelo hacked down Fabregas intentionally eh??.

Anyhow thats what i love about Barca and Real...they really go at it hammer and tongs and seeing as Barca is the Spanish team barring Messi and Real have some spanish players ie Alonso and Ramos...it even makes it more fun that outside of La Liga they are spanish teammates

Well, the reason I dont mind it from Real so much is that they are not as technically gifted as Barca so you can see how they might resort to ruffing things up a bit.

If Barca are so damn wonderful, then they shouldnt have to resort to ANY type of cheating at all.

But whenever they are in an important game, its almost like one of their tactics is to get the opposition sent off.

Not nice to see, and definitely not required from players with such a high skill level.

Its just cynical. I'd like Barca genuinely if they cut out the cheating, rolling around, play acting, and waiving imaginary cards around.

There is no need.

Yas786 · 18 Aug 2011 at 21:40

Dr. Pain said:
Well, the reason I dont mind it from Real so much is that they are not as technically gifted as Barca so you can see how they might resort to ruffing things up a bit.

If Barca are so damn wonderful, then they shouldnt have to resort to ANY type of cheating at all.

But whenever they are in an important game, its almost like one of their tactics is to get the opposition sent off.

Not nice to see, and definitely not required from players with such a high skill level.

Its just cynical. I'd like Barca genuinely if they cut out the cheating, rolling around, play acting, and waiving imaginary cards around.

There is no need.

And id like Real genuinely if they stopped trying to injure players on purpose but thats what you get taught from a pathetic little man that is Mourinho

.

There is no need for out right thuggery in football.

MissChief · 19 Aug 2011 at 00:17

By far the worst player is Angel di maria. he's constantly rolling around like he's been shot or is aiming for a roll-over record.

Anyway I agree that Spanish football has been dying (classico excepted) and being able to individually sell rights was always going to be a disaster. I believe there is a collective bargaining agreement on the table but I'm not 100% sure.