Players in the Spanish women’s league are going to strike for better pay and conditions during the first two rounds of the upcoming season, the main players’ union has said.
The announcement comes amid a crisis in Spanish football caused by the forced kiss of a Spain women’s player by the head of its football federation at the Women’s World Cup final. ALSO READ: Spain opens legal case to try and force Rubiales out, as football chief breaks his silence.
The Asociación de Futbolistas Españoles (AFE) said in a statement that the strike seeks ‘fair and just treatment for the players’ including a reduction in the salary gap with men players of La Liga. The minimum salary for men in the first division is €182,000 but for women, just €16,000.
The strike was called after negotiations for a new collective bargaining deal broke down with Liga F, the revamped women’s league that started last season.
The strike will impact games to be played on 8-10 September and 15-17 September.
AFE said it had the backing of other unions, including FUTPRO, which is representing Spain forward Jenni Hermoso after she was forcibly kissed by Spanish football federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales during the Women’s World Cup awards ceremony on 20 August.
Spain’s women’s players reached their first collective bargaining agreement in 2020.
Liga F, which represents the clubs, said that it is holding a meeting with the players’ unions on Monday.
Spain’s women’s football has experienced a spectacular rise in recent years. Besides winning the World Cup, Barcelona has won two of the past three Women’s Champions League titles.
Spain’s acting deputy Prime Minister, Yolanda Díaz and the country’s acting labour minister, tweeted: ‘All my support to the footballers of the Football League who go on strike to demand their rights. Their conditions must improve: there must be a rise in the minimum wage and abolish partiality. You are being a reference in the defense of decent work and real equality.’
Todo mi apoyo a las futbolistas de la Liga de Fútbol que se ponen en huelga para exigir sus derechos. Sus condiciones deben mejorar: tiene que haber una subida del salario mínimo y suprimir la parcialidad.
— Yolanda Díaz (@Yolanda_Diaz_) September 1, 2023
Estáis siendo referente en la defensa de trabajo digno e igualdad real. https://t.co/enYB8V5O3U
🚨‼️⚽️ Las futbolistas de la @LigaF_oficial convocan dos jornadas de huelga.#UnidasSomosMásFuerteshttps://t.co/gpu86vu8s5
— AFE (@afefutbol) September 1, 2023
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