France

Strike Threat Lifted In France

Late yesterday evening, an agreement was reached between the UNFP and the UCPF that means that French football will not be suspended due to strike action next weekend…

Oct 17, 2008 10:25:44 AM

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Philippe Piat (UNFP)

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For close to three weeks, a strike amongst French footballers had been, apparently, growing increasingly inevitably. However, in talks late last night between Philippe Piat, president of the UNFP, and Jean-Michel Aulas, Lyon president who was representing the UCPF, an agreement was reached to call the strike action off.

“We will stop the strike action,” Piat (pictured) declared to the AFP news agency as he exited a Paris hotel, “We found an agreement that does not jeopardise the players’ future, which is what our primary target was, but we also found a suitable agreement for the presidents, who wanted a greater say economically in the running of the league.”

It seems that moves to increase the number of club presidents on the LFP’s board from 12 to 14 (giving them a majority), have been abandonded for the meantime.

“We wanted to move to 14 so that the presidents could get a greater say financially,” explains Jean-Pierre Louvel, president of the UCPF, who welcomed the news that the presidents would become the only decision makers in financial matters relating to the league.

Frédéric Thiriez, president of the LFP, was quick to hail the agreement, stating in a press release, “I am pleased with the outcome of the talks today.”

The strike had been due to take place next week.

Robin Bairner