Serie A Players Agree to Start Going on Strike After Beretta Rejects Offer

The players of the Series A Italian League have threatened to go on strike by the end of November 2010, unless there is a new agreement between Serie A and the Italian Player's Association (AIC), which is the player's union.

The reason for setting the tentative date for the strike (which would occur on the 25th and 26th week of the Serie A Season) is to respect the agreement that was reached around the end of September 2010.

The main point of contention between Serie A and AIC has been the clubs including a clause that will force players with one year remaining on their contract to be transferred to clubs of "equal standing."

Giancarlo Abete (who is the President of the Italian Football Federation) has participated as a mediator in the past.

Maurizio Beretta (President of Serie A) has rejected any mediation from Abete, saying that "everything must be discussed." The attitude of Beretta was the final straw for the AIC and its members who voted to go on strike.

The news comes after the Maurizio Zamparini announced his resignation as President of Palermo, with the intention of selling the club. Zamparini's reason was the state of Italian Football.

It is important that the AIC and Serie A get together to resolve their differences with Abete as moderator, or proceed with another moderator. If it were not for the separation of sports from politics, I would have chosen Silvio Berlusconi as moderator, but again, that is an afterthought.

What I am trying to say is the losers are the people who go to see football games and support their teams. The losers are those of Serie A who will be losing weeks of games because of a strike, and other interested parties involved

It is hoped that the situation is resolved at an early date so that the fans are not disappointed.