Start to Spanish La Liga delayed as players choose to strike

The start to the Spanish La Liga will be delayed as the players have acted on their threats to strike.  The Association of Spanish Football Players said the strike will go ahead after talks failed Friday for improved salary guarantees in a new collective bargaining agreement.

Spanish players representing all 42 teams in the top two divisions backed the first work stoppage in 27 years. The season was scheduled to start this weekend with three-time defending champion Barcelona at Malaga and Real Madrid playing Athletic Bilbao.  The Spanish league -- home to top players Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo -- may start in September after the AFE pledged to boycott the first two rounds because of labor conflict.

Both parties plan to talk Saturday and Monday, with next weekend's second round of games still uncertain. AFE hasn't indicated if it will extend the strike beyond then with an international break, meaning the domestic league may not start until September 10.  The conflict is about wages as players look for guarantees, with clubs owing up to $72 million in unpaid salaries to more than 200 players.

Spain's bankruptcy law is also a problem, as it allows insolvent clubs to re-negotiate or delay paying player salaries while under bankruptcy protection.   Spanish legislation expected to pass through parliament next month would relegate any insolvent club into the third division, although that wouldn't go into effect until the end of this season.

There are six top-flight clubs and a number of second-division clubs in bankruptcy protection. Clubs involved in European competitions will play, with Villarreal facing a Champions League qualifying game next week and Athletic Bilbao, Sevilla and Atletico Madrid playing Europa League matches.  Barcelona's exhibition against Napoli on Monday also will go ahead.