Spanish Players Down Tools

It's a sign of the times. The Spanish football league (LFP) and the player's union (AFE) have failed to reach an agreement that would forestall a strike. The  footballers want a designated fund to ensure players will continue to be paid in the event their clubs become insolvent.

Over 50 million euro are owed to players across Europe due to just such a scenario. It is perhaps good to remember that not every professional plying his trade in the Spanish first and second division get paid as much as this guy.

When a club goes insolvent players are often cut off from their only source of income: their contractually owed salary. Most players aren't sponsored. If their club goes, so does their income. It will be interesting to see, if such a fund is ultimately created, whether there are knock-on effects on leagues around the world, such as the English Premier League or Serie A.