LFP President Javier Tebas has slammed the AFE and RFEF for seemingly going ahead with strike action on May 16 ahead of Tuesday’s crisis meeting.
Speaking at a lengthy Press conference on Monday, the 52-year-old revealed he was hopeful that the Spanish High Court would deem the strike illegal and that the country’s Sports Council (CSD) could pass an injunction in the event talks between both sides did not bear fruit.
“We express our support for the Royal Decree,” he began.
“It will benefit all [Spanish] football clubs and their fans. It’s not true that players will lose any rights.
”They’re misinformed. We ratified the invalidity of the action approved by the AFE and denounced the illegal strike it wants to do.
“We urge the RFEF to stop behaving the way it is. We’re willing to sit down with the AFE to discuss any issues, but only while taking into account our agreement for this meeting and on this subject. We condemn the RFEF.
“The act of reconciliation is a prerequisite when a strike is called. The strike is illegal and we have passed this on to a judge.
“We have presented the demand and we believe this strike may cause a lot of damage. We are facing an illegal strike and therefore we have taken it to Justice.
“We’ve asked for an injunction upon request to suspend the championship. Hopefully the CSD [Sports Council] approve it within two days.
“There won’t be a strike if the union gives up their fight and that the CSD considers our injunction not to stop the competition.
“I believe it will be difficult to reconcile [during Tuesday’s meeting]. We are willing to reach out [to the AFE], but I don’t think there will be an agreement."
“When I was summoned for conciliation, I didn’t know whether I’d be going, but it’s since been confirmed that I’ll be going as a conciliator.
“Things that are not within the scope of our competition are being requested. [The AFE and RFEF] have summoned a strike and they should say if they are still striking.
“Today, [I believe] they are striking. I don’t have a rapport with [AFE President] Luis Rubiales and I don’t know if there will be a strike [on May 16].
"We haven’t contemplated the idea of bringing in foreign referees [for the last two rounds].
“If the High Court says the strike is illegal and the CSD gives us the injunction then the Spanish referees are obliged to blow their whistles.
“It doesn’t surprise me that the RFEF won’t be [at the meeting]. They don’t usually turn up to meetings, even when they’re invited.
“The President of the RFEF [Angel Villar] thinks he’s a feudal lord who treats [La Liga] as his farm and only talks to who he wants.
“I don’t think Villar would stage this strike to hurt me deliberately. [The RFEF] have this medieval way of thinking that it’s for some economic benefit and there are players who don’t even understand the strike.
“In other countries, people are living in amazement. I’ve received calls from people abroad and they’re stunned [by the situation].
“They don’t understand why they’d want to strike and are perplexed. Whether a strike goes ahead depends on Villar and Rubiales. We won’t accept any blackmail.
“Not holding the Copa del Rey final would cause enormous economic damage, although I can’t disclose how much because the RFEF isn’t not transparent with its economic data.
“It causes great harm to the football industry. This strike is a joke. It’s a strike that’s been deliberately formed to hurt the league. They are prohibited.”
