PLAYERS IN ITALY’S Serie A are to strike in two weeks time in a protest over their rights in transfer negotiations.

Talks between the Italian Player’s Association (AIC) and Serie A regarding a contract on player’s rights collapsed recently after the original agreement expired in the summer.

A strike for the weekend of 25-26 September was announced in a statement read by Massimo Oddo of AC Milan. The AIC claims that clubs are trying to restrict their ability to refuse a transfer.

“The association, in perfect symphony with the players of Serie A, has decided not to go on the field for the fifth round of matches of the Serie A championship on Sept. 25 and 26 in protest against requests to impose new contractual rules”  Oddo told a news conference.

From the BBC: “The clubs want the right to insist that when a player has a year remaining on his contract, he must accept a transfer to another, equally competitive club that guarantees the same financial treatment and status. They propose that if the player does not agree to move he must instead come to a deal over his contract with his current employers.”

The AIC has threatened a strike several times recently, but this is the first time they have acted on their threats. The heads of Serie A clubs say they will propose a new collective deal to the players on Monday.