Espanyol President in strike threat

Joan Collet, the President of Espanyol, has threatened to lead a strike of La Liga if there’s no change to the distribution of TV rights.

AS quotes Collet as vowing to bring the Primera to a halt if action isn’t taken soon in the form of a Royal Decree via the government.

“We are ready to stop if it doesn’t come in one, two or three weeks,” Collet said in an interview broadcast by radio station RAC1.

“In sporting matters, the ability of this government to make fools of themselves has no limits. The Decree is not published yet because some politician stops it. This League is no longer the best [in the world].

“I am disappointed and upset with the failure. We are losing hundreds of millions of Euros,” LFP President, Javier Tebas, added.

AS add that so far only the President of Recreativo Huelva, Pablo Comas, has spoken of strike action, but Collet’s comments go even further.

Legislation regarding TV rights fees was introduced two years ago but, so far, hasn’t been signed into law.

Collet is understood to have support for a strike from the Presidents of Numancia and Real Valladolid in the Segunda, but AS note other officials are more cautious.

Miguel Angel Gil Marin, representing Atletico Madrid, has called for government action but stopped short of backing a proposed strike, while other decision-makers have been more restrained still.

41 clubs – all the teams in the top two divisions except Athletic Bilbao – have signed a letter urging action on the issue.

Tags Joan Collet
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