Women's football: Spain's top players striking this weekend over pay dispute

Published on: 16 November 2019

Athletic Bilbao and Spain goalkeeper Ainhoa Tirapu is one of almost 200 players who voted to strike

Women footballers in Spain's top division will strike this weekend in a dispute over pay.

Almost 200 players from 16 clubs voted to strike in October after more than a year of failed negotiations.

They are demanding a professional agreement that regulates minimum working conditions, rights to minimum wages and measures for maternity.

Both Saturday's games were postponed, with six games set to be affected on Sunday.

UDG Tenerife did not to travel to their game at Espanyol after their Friday flight was severely delayed by technical problems, but had planned to do so and strike on Saturday.

In a statement on their website the club said they "respect the position of the players to support the strike", adding that they hope an agreement can be reached "for the sake of women's football and generations to come".

Levante and Sporting de Huelva confirmed their game would not go ahead on Twitter after "both clubs decided to join the strike action".

Teams must be able to field seven players in order for games to go ahead.

A video featuring top players, including Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Ainhoa Tirapu and fellow Spain international Silvia Meseguer of Atletico Madrid, was promoted on social media by players' union the Association of Spanish Footballers.

In the video they say they are fighting for former players, current players and "for those who will one day be in our place".

The action was supported by 93% of players employed by 16 clubs at a meeting in Madrid on 22 October.

Clubs are proposing a minimum wage of 16,000 euros (£13,700), but unions representing the players are asking for at least 20,000 euros (£17,000).

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Source: bbc.com

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