Italian players in new strike threat
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Shanghai Daily, August 4, 2011
Italian Serie A footballers have hinted that they could go on strike this month after a dispute over players' rights resurfaced.
The Italian Players Union (AIC) said the Serie A league has still not signed an agreement reached with the players last year after intense negotiations, during which strikes were twice narrowly averted.
"The collective contract must be signed and it needs to be done before the start of the championship," said Damiano Tommasi, the new head of the AIC, in a television interview.
"It's difficult for the players to not go on to the pitch, but it's necessary to have this in black and white," added Tommasi, a former Roma and Italy midfielder who played at the 2002 World Cup. "I've visited 90 percent of the teams' pre-season training camps and there is unity among the players."
An old collective agreement expired at the end of the 2009-10 season and talks for its renewal dragged on for the whole of last season. The union was especially unhappy about clubs trying to force players to move in the last year of their contracts.
Last-minute deals
The matter came to a head in September and December when strikes were called off at the last minute, in the latter case with only two days to spare.
A last-minute deal meant all players with first-team contracts would be allowed to train with the main squad while rules to avoid discrimination were agreed for unwanted players who are put up for sale.
The AIC said it had signed the deal then but was still waiting for the league to add its signature.
Meanwhile in Beijing, city rivals AC Milan and Inter Milan will face-off this weekend for Italian Super Cup, the traditional curtain raiser for the new season.
Inter played in the same fixture at the same venue two years ago and lost 1-2 to Lazio, and coach Gian Piero Gasperini is aiming to go one better on Saturday.
"I don't have a crystal ball but we are here to try to win the Super Cup that Inter could have taken home two years ago in Beijing. And to play against AC Milan makes the event even more prestigious," Gasperini said.
Inter midfielder Wesley Sneijder has been linked with a move to Manchester United, but Gasperini played down the rumors.
"There is no Sneijder problem. He is playing for us, training with us and he will play on Saturday. That is all I can say about him."
