La Liga Strike Suspended: Latest Details and Updated Fixture Schedule
The Spanish football season will reach its conclusion after the nation's High Court suspended plans of a players strike.
As reported by BBC Sport, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) originally called a halt to the penultimate two rounds of fixtures, with the Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) planning to strike due to being unhappy with the implementation of a newly passed television rights agreement. However, authorities have overruled the decision.
The final two rounds of fixtures will now go ahead, including Barcelona's potentially title-deciding trip to face Atletico Madrid. You can view the remaining schedule below, courtesy of Sky Sports:
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| Sunday, May 17. | Villarreal vs. Malaga | 6 p.m/1 p.m. |
| Sunday, May 17. | Elche vs. Athletic Bilbao | 6 p.m/1 p.m. |
| Sunday, May 17. | Deportivo la Coruna vs. Levante | 6 p.m/1 p.m. |
| Sunday, May 17. | Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona | 6 p.m/1 p.m. |
| Sunday, May 17. | Real Sociedad vs. Granada | 6 p.m/1 p.m. |
| Sunday, May 17. | Cordoba vs. Rayo Vallecano | 6 p.m/1 p.m. |
| Sunday, May 17. | Getafe vs. Eibar | 6 p.m/1 p.m. |
| Sunday, May 17. | Epanyol vs. Real Madrid | 6 p.m/1 p.m. |
| Sunday, May 17. | Valencia vs. Celta Vigo | 6 p.m/1 p.m. |
| Sunday, May 17. | Sevilla vs. Almeria | 6 p.m/1 p.m. |
| Saturday, May 23. | Athletic Bilbao vs. Villarreal | 5:30 p.m./12:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, May 23. | Levante vs. Elche | 5:30 p.m./12:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, May 23. | Barcelona vs. Deportivo la Coruna | 5:30 p.m./12:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, May 23. | Granada vs. Atletico Madrid | 5:30 p.m./12:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, May 23. | Rayo Vallecano vs. Real Sociedad | 5:30 p.m./12:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, May 23. | Eibar vs. Cordoba | 5:30 p.m./12:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, May 23. | Real Madrid vs. Getafe | 5:30 p.m./12:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, May 23. | Celta Vigo vs. Espanyol | 5:30 p.m./12:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, May 23. | Almeria vs. Valencia | 5:30 p.m./12:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, May 23. | Malaga vs. Sevilla | 5:30 p.m./12:30 p.m. |
Supporters will now be able to view Barcelona potentially win the title away at Atletico, usurping Diego Simeone's side to the throne and halting Real Madrid's hopes of silverware in the process. The Blaugrana need just one win to confirm their place on La Liga's throne.
Proceeding with the domestic fixture list—including May 30's Copa del Rey final—also stops further problems being created in the future. Barca will face Juventus in the June 6 Champions League showpiece, so a sudden lack of matches would severely impact their preparation.
Many of the division's players, including Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez, are also scheduled to appear at the Copa America, running from June 11 to July 4.
BBC Sport writer Andy West explains the fundamental reason for the original suspension:
"Essentially, the suspension was the result of a power struggle over who runs Spanish football. More specifically, it is the climax of a long-running dispute over the distribution of television revenue, which is currently heavily weighted in favour of the "Big Two" of Barcelona and Real Madrid.
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The National Professional Football League (LFP) supported the new deal. However, many players believe the new split of money still doesn't help La Liga's struggling clubs, per BBC Sport. As noted by Dermot Corrigan of ESPN FC, Messi and Bayern Munich's Xabi Alonso—formerly of Real Madrid—supported the players' right to strike:
It is a huge relief the current season will reach a natural conclusion, as the possibility of the final two rounds not being played would have caused havoc at both ends of the table.
Although it seems the new broadcast agreement is destined to continue causing problems in the future, the court's ruling at least allows the Spanish football season to return to relative normality for the time being.
