First the NHL, then NFL, then NBA and now La Liga?
After negotiations failed Friday, Spanish players representing all 42 teams in the top two divisions of La Liga are refusing to play, marking the first strike in twenty-seven years for the league. The season was scheduled to start this weekend with Barcelona at Malaga and Real Madrid playing Athletic Bilbao. Those games are now cancelled and it is unsure if next weeks games will occur. Talks will be held between the parties involved on Saturday and Monday in an effort to come to an agreement quickly. But it is likely the season may not start until September.
I thought these were some of the best paid athletes in the world, so what is all the hoopla about? Well it turns out that the tanking global economy has extended its reach to Spain‘s fútbol arenas. With Spain’s economy in a downturn and a bankruptcy law in the country that allows insolvent clubs to re-negotiate or delay paying its players, some are concerned that their large La Liga paychecks may shrink into MLS sized ones in the not too distant future.
Clubs involved in European competitions will play, with Villarreal facing a Champions League qualifying game next week and Athletic Bilbao, Sevilla and Atletico Madrid playing Europa League matches. Barcelona’s exhibition against Napoli on Monday also will go ahead.
Prepare for the return of La Liga with a new Cesc Fabregas Barcelona Jersey. Show your love by wearing the #4 in Cesc’s New Barcelona Jersey.
And in the meantime, at least we have Premier League and our Fantasy Sports Competition. We are one week in but you can still join.
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