French clubs still set to strike over tax hike
By Mark Doyle18
Nov 1, 2013 4:12:00 PM
Ligue 1 and 2 sides will boycott all scheduled fixtures between November 29 and December 2 because of a dispute over top players being asked to give up 75 per cent of their wages
The Union of Professional Football Clubs (UCPF) has confirmed that this month's planned strike action over a tax hike is still scheduled to go ahead, after talks with French president Francois Hollande failed to produce a resolution.
Ligue 1 and 2 sides are firmly against the government's plans to tax players who earn more than €1 million per year at a rate of 75 per cent from next year on, claiming it would jeopardise the future of the domestic game.
UCPF president Jean-Pierre Louvel had hoped to make some headway on the issue during showdown talks with Hollande on Friday but the two parties remain at loggerheads, meaning, as things stand, there will be no games in Ligue 1 or 2 between November 29 and December 2.
"We had a rather long meeting with the President, and he heard us out," Louvel told reporters. "He explained to us the difficulties he is facing and we did the same.
"But despite our putting forward several proposals, notably concerning the retro-activity of the tax, no breakthroughs were made concerning possible solutions.
"So, naturally, our planned actions for the weekend of November 29 to December 2 will go ahead as planned.
"There is no reason for us to change our plans unless, before then, we can agree on amendments to the tax that will allow our clubs to absorb it."
