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Spanish league threatens strike over TV spat

After a meeting in Madrid on Friday, the LFP, which represents first and second division clubs, said it wanted the rule dropped for the start of the 2012/13 season so clubs were in a stronger position to negotiate rights with television companies.

The league also wants guarantees about how much cash they are entitled to receive from betting and lottery revenue.

"We discussed the obligation for free games, which does not mean there won't be any, rather that we do not want the obligation to exist," Astiazaran explained.

"We will set a timeframe for talking to the government and parliamentary groups but if there is no conclusive progress matchday 30 (on April 2/3) will not be played," he added.

"If that is the case, that matchday would be moved forward a week and the league would end in June."

In a statement later on Friday, the LFP noted that Spain was the only country in the world in which one match had to be shown for free, which it said constituted "the expropriation of the clubs' rights with no recompense whatsoever".

The LFP said its stance had the "unanimous support" of the European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL), who considered that the rule "affected the sustainable development of the Spanish league, its economic viability, sporting success and social function," the LFP said.