Spanish players threaten strike

Football players from Spain's top two divisions, including millionaires like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, have decided to go on strike at the start of the season, the head of the Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) announced yesterday.

The decision was taken after the AFE and the Professional Football League (LFP), which represents clubs in the two divisions, failed to reached a deal on wage guarantees for clubs that go insolvent, Luis Rubiales told a news conference. "Footballers from the first and second divisions have taken the responsible, firm and unanimous decision to go on strike on the two first match days of the football season," which starts on August 20.