Buffon anger at Serie A strike

Juventus and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has revealed his frustration over the strike that has delayed the start of the Serie A season.

A breakdown between players and Italian football authorities in finalising a new collective bargaining agreement is the cause of the strike.

Although 33-year-old Buffon admits neither group is to blame for the impasse, he believes both parties need to show some common sense to resolve the dispute.

“I think there isn’t just one person responsible, we are all guilty because it has been a defeat for everyone,” Buffon said.

“Having said that, it’s also true that with a little bit of common sense and collaboration we probably would have managed to find an agreement, sign it and play the season’s first match.”

Buffon said that he and the rest of his team-mates are anxious to get the season underway, and revealed he thinks there are higher powers at work behind the deadlock.

“We really want to sign the agreement as soon as possible,” he said. “We had already reached an agreement several months ago and now, unbelievably, a U-turn has been done on the decision made.”

“This U-turn makes us think a lot of things. First of all, with all the problems we have in Italy – reformations, political problems and so on – I think there was a wish to distract people and give football and the player’s too many responsibilities.”

“If a country such as Italy is making such a big fuss over football, it means it isn’t a country with a very bright future.”