Chilean players go on strike

In sympathy with players of Chilean second division club Deportes Inquique, who claim not to have been paid since last October, the Chilean Footballers Union have confirmed that they are planning to strike, threatening to disrupt the opening weekend of the Chilean football season. The union's president Carlos Soto called for players from the first and second division to strike after a meeting between Inquique's owners and the footballers Union failed to resolve the pay dispute. Players at the club claim they are collectively owed as much as USD $260,000. "We announced this (strike) some time ago and now it is going to happen," Soto said. The action looks likely to affect top Chilean clubs, including fixtures between Colo-Colo and Universidad de Chile scheduled for this weekend. Sportcal.com