The English Premier League started legal proceedings last night to prevent the league's professional footballers going on strike next weekend over demands that their union be given a greater share of television money.
Lawyers representing the Premier League are to submit papers at the High Court in London today, seeking a hearing next week where they will attempt to secure an injunction against the Professional Footballers Association (PFA), the players union, over its call for a strike.
Despite the legal move, the two sides will continue negotiations today over what share of money from the sale of television rights should be given to the PFA. The organisation is demanding £27 million sterling per year over three years, claiming that it needs the money to help run programmes for players and ex-players.
The football authorities - the Premier League and the Football League - have offered £50 million over three years. A Premier League statement last night said: "The football authorities are hopeful of reaching a negotiated settlement at the earliest opportunity for the good of the game.
"However, due to the PFA serving notice to strike we are obligated as a matter of procedure to issue legal proceedings. This includes an application for an injunction to be heard next week."
Strike action was called earlier this week with Gordon Taylor, the head of the PFA, stating his members would not take part in matches on the weekend of December 1st where cameras are present. This will affect all Premier League and Football League games.
Taylor insisted he had been expecting the legal action to start, but added that a further meeting would take place with the league tomorrow.
"We were not surprised at all - we have been prepared for that since the beginning and we are very confident of our legal position. We have had a barrister in place for a long, long time. We are still hoping to resolve this of course, but we want an offer that respects our position."
The Premier League decided to initiate legal action after it emerged it had only until today to request a High Court hearing.
The football authorities and the PFA both insisted last night they still wanted to reach a settlement.
Meanwhile, Charlton manager Alan Curbishley hinted players may be wavering in their support for proposed strike action as the full implications of their threat becomes clear. Curbishley questioned whether the PFA's membership were aware of the potential repercussions when they were balloted over the issue, despite their overwhelming response in favour of strike action.
Curbishley believes some players may now be having second thoughts about withdrawing their labour. "Some ground has been given and it may be that some players are thinking, 'Is it enough?' or 'Is the deal one we should accept or not?'" said Curbishley. "But they have voted for a strike.
"I don't know if the tide is turning, but it may affect things if they start having their wages docked. I don't think some of them realise what industrial action means - they have only ever seen the words in the paper."
