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31 March 2006
MADRID — On the eve of the match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, known as El Clasico, Spanish referees have cancelled a planned strike.
The Spanish Football Federation said professional league referees have called off a strike threatened for this weekend.
The organization said the move followed the announcement by the Professional Football League to pay EUR 1.83 million in back pay to the refs.
The referees originally called the strike for this weekend because they had not been paid for the past two months and because of differences between the League and the Federation over the amount the country’s soccer clubs would have to contribute to resolve the matter.
The League had announced its intention to sue for damages if the refs did not work the weekend’s games.
The game between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid is always one of the biggest fixtures of the Spanish football season.
[Copyright EFE with Expatica]
Subject: Spanish news