Rayo threaten to strike over unpaid wages
Reuters - Wednesday 30 March 2011, 14:51
MADRID - Spanish second division leaders
Rayo Vallecano have threatened to refuse to play their league
match at Valladolid on Saturday in protest over the squad's
unpaid wages.
The Madrid-based club is in dire financial straits and their
owners, the Ruiz-Mateos family, last month applied to put the
business into administration. They have also opened negotiations
with prospective buyers.
"We aren't ruling out refusing to travel to Valladolid. It's
a situation no one in the squad wants but it is an alternative
we have," team captain Michel told reporters on Wednesday.
"We feel we are on our own. No one is helping us. The league
wants more money (referring to the professional football
league's failed attempt to postpone this weekend's matches over
television revenues) but the players don't get paid."
Rayo moved to the top of the standings with a 1-0 victory
over their closest rivals Real Betis on Sunday, in a game where
home fans protested against the club's owners.
"We've gone close to a year without being paid," Michel
added.
"At the last meeting with the owners they said they would
try to do something from ticket sales, but we haven't seen a
euro. We feel as though someone isn't being straight with us.
"We are very sorry for the fans. We have been told that if a
sale happens it will take two months to resolve because of the
debts. We can't carry on like this. We want the (Ruiz-Mateos)
family to do something to pay the team.
"We are talking about the leaders of the division. We
deserve more respect."
Rayo are top by two points with 11 games left to play, and
are scheduled to visit Valladolid on Saturday.