Serie A players are planning to strike during matches on September 25 and 26 in protest over a collective contract dispute. A collective contract between the Italian Players' Association (AIC) and Serie A guaranteeing players' rights in transfer negotiations expired in the summer. Talks over a new deal have failed, prompting the players to announce their strike plans on Friday. "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 on Sept. 25 and 26 in protest against requests to impose new contractual rules," AC Milan defender Massimo Oddo told a news conference. The association was alarmed by the trend of clubs trying to force the players who have just one year to run on their contract to accept a transfer to another. The clubs also 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 strike is against the lack of a new collective contract but also the fact we players feel we are treated like objects," Oddo added. The players' association threatened to strike on several occasions during the past few seasons over a variety of disputes but stepped back from the brink or came to an agreement with club bosses. Italian football has only just overcome the unfortunate consequences of the infamous 2006 match-fixing scandal.
