Espanyol President Joan Collet Suggests Club Could Go on Strike

Espanyol president Joan Collet has threatened that his club could go on strike if a fairer deal over La Liga television rights is not arranged by the Spanish government.

Talking to Catalan radio station RAC 1, Collet insisted that there needs to be a switch to centralised negotiations, as the current setup unfairly favours Barcelona and Real Madrid, per AS:

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We’re prepared to stop playing unless this does not go ahead in the next few weeks. For sporting matters, the ability of the current government to make themselves look foolish is incredible. The law has yet to be approved as it would appear that some politician wants it to be put on hold. La Liga cannot be called the best in the world. I feel betrayed and am angry with the lack of accountability. We are losing millions as a result. The previous model, where two teams earn a disproportionate amount has not worked. Here we have two clubs who earn more than any other European club does from TV money.

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Indeed, La Liga is currently the only European league in which clubs negotiate their own television contracts, leading to disproportionate cuts for the 20 clubs.

Real and Barca take around half the annual La Liga money of €650 million, per Ian Rogers in the Daily Mail, and the division's administering association want to see that changed, per AS:

On Friday, 40 of the 41 LFP clubs voted for new, fairer legislation to be pushed through—Athletic Bilbao were the only dissenters—but a new law is still not forthcoming, per La Liga writer Dermot Corrigan:

Espanyol will not be the only club threatening strike action if the delay continues, as it is now very clear that the vast majority are unhappy with the current situation.

In the long run, a centralised deal would no doubt benefit La Liga, creating a more competitive league in which Barcelona and Real do not have such a ludicrous monetary advantage.