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Player strike looms in Colombia [Fri Sep 16th, 2005]
Colombia's top-flight competition reaches the deadline imposed by the players for strike action this week.
The Copa Mustang II could be thrown into chaos as there has been no solution to the dispute between the Colombia-based players' association and the Dimayor - the institution combining the Colombian clubs and the Football Federation.
The Association of Professional Footballers (Acolfutpro) voted to strike two weeks ago after their demands for changes to the organisation of domestic football were thrown out.
Among Acolfutpro's demands was the right to represent the players in the signing of contracts while Dimayor would represent only the clubs.
Acolfutpro took their case to Colombia's Ministry of Social Protection before deciding to go ahead with their strike.
The deadline has come and Acolfutpro's executive director Carlos Gonzalez Puche revealed that "no letter has been written in any document yet".
However, the Social Protection vice-minister, Jorge Leon Sanchez added: "The new meeting had successful results. We hope we could get to an arrangement to avoid a strike."
Dimayor has also refused to accept the players' demand for a percentage of the money which Dimayor receive from television rights, betting and other businesses related to football.
Colombian international midfielder Mauricio Serna said: "I think that everything has a solution through dialogue."
If the strike takes place, it would be the first time in the 57-year history of the Colombian FA that the players have taken action.
PA Sport
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