The Spanish professional footballers' association has voted to strike for the first two matches of the new La Liga season over collective bargaining rights for wage protection.
Players want a wage guarantee fund for when clubs become insolvent - a problem thatSpain's system has seen all-too frequently, with Levante and Hercules struggling to pay staff members in recent years and Real Zaragoza applying for administration this summer, which is a common occurrence particularly in the Segunda Division.
Flanked by the likes of Iker Casillas, Xabi Alonso (both Real Madrid), Carles Puyol(Barca) and David Albelda (Valencia), AFE president Luis Rubiales announced that enough was enough for an issue that blights the smaller clubs in what is arguably football's top league.
"We are behind all of Europe in this matter," Rubiales said.
"AFE and the players from the first and second divisions have made the decision to call a strike for the first two matchdays of the season.
"The players have met with us and decided that 'enough is enough now'. There will be no league until a collective bargaining agreement is reached."
Spain's football system sees TV money in particular heavily skewed towards the top clubs, meaning smaller Liga clubs and those in lower divisions operate on small budgets and often struggle to stay afloat despite modest outlays on wages.
A separate row over the allocation of TV revenue saw a strike narrowly averted last season.
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