Prandelli confident of avoiding strike

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said he believes players will get their way in the Serie A collective bargaining agreement.

All 20 Serie A captains have threatened strike action should their demands for a pay increase not be met – with the opening weekend of fixtures on August 27 and 28 threatened should the league not respond.

Players had threatened a strike over the same issue last season – which was called off – but Prandelli said he thinks the players will get the increase they deserve before the season kicks off.

“I think it’s a very delicate situation but from what I’ve read I believe the parties are willing to reach an agreement and I think that with good sense and a willingness to interact, the signatures will arrive,” Prandelli said.

“This is what will happen if they don’t reach an agreement – they say the players who are millionaires will go on strike, but since the football association was founded it has always protected its representatives.”

“The privileged – because they are privileged and they know they are – can use their image and express their opinions in order to guarantee justice and to guarantee a respectable career for the players who aren’t as lucky as they are and who don’t earn as much money.”

Players association president Damiano Tommasi is also confident strike action will not be necessary, but admitted it was a disappointing image for the Italian top flight that such a threat was made.

“We know that every time football players express their opinion, in particular in their relationship with the leagues, easy conclusions and prejudices can be made, and I’m sorry that even the league executives have fallen into this trap,” Tommasi said.

“It’s a shame for Maurizio Beretta in particular because after all he also represents the 20 clubs, who all sign contracts.”

“I don’t want to focus on this theme because it’ll end up sounding like a load of cliches. We will do what is in our power to express our point of view.”

“I think we have plenty of time to sign an agreement – an agreement that’s already been reached and signed by the Associazione Calciatori (Italian Football Players Association).”

“As I’ve said before the federal President supported our position – or at least confirmed our position from commitments already made – so I believe all the elements are in place to reach a deal and to sign it well before the beginning of the championship.”