Italian Footballer Association confirm strike action

(GSM) – The Italian Footballers Association (AIC) have confirmed the Serie A will go on strike on September 25-26 for week five.

The AIC is protesting at the renewal of Serie A’s collective-bargaining agreement.

The Lega wants to introduce a collective agreement clause that would oblige players to accept a transfer to other clubs on the same agreement which they have with the club they are leaving. There are also proposals against wage structures.

Milan full-back Massimo Oddo read out the following statement: “The AIC, in accordance with the teams in Serie A, has decided that they will not take to the pitch on the 5th round of the season on September 25 and 26 in protest at the introduction of the new contractual regime.”

The most exciting fixture that will be affected by the strike is the clash between Internazionale and Roma.

When asked to explain the decision, Oddo said: “The players are fed up with being treated like objects and not like people.

“We are dealing with human rights here,” he concluded.

Gennaro Gattuso, Clarence Seedorf, Javier Zanetti and a number of other high-profile Serie A players were at the meeting for the announcement.