By David Gold
March 24 – La Liga games on the weekend of April 2/3 could be postponed if the Spanish professional soccer league (LPF) fails to resolve its dispute with the Government over a ruling that a La Liga game per matchday must be shown on free to air television.
The dispute has been ongoing for several months, with a previous strike scheduled for the start of January averted, but there is now a disagreement between the clubs themselves over the proposed strike.
Sevilla, Villarreal, Athletic Bilbao, Espanyol, Real Zaragoza and Real Sociedad said that the postponement would be “disproportionate, inopportune, against the interest of clubs, the competition and supporters and, what’s more, against the law.”
The dispute pertains to the ruling by the Government which means a game must be free to air on each match day, as the clubs believe scrapping the rule will improve their ability to bargain for greater television rights, as well as seeking guarantees about cash they are entitled to receive from betting and lottery revenue.
However, the LPF, which represents teams in both La Liga and the Segunda División, has failed to come to agreement with the Government and Parliamentary groups, and announced the strike on their website.
“The LPF stands by the decision… to postpone the matchday which corresponds to April 3, until there are concrete developments in the dialogue with the administration.”
The weekend of April 2/3 could be pivotal in the title race, with leaders Barcelona facing a tricky trip to Villarreal, currently in third place, whilst Real Madrid, who lie five points adrift of the Catalans, host Sporting Gijon.
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