Could someone explain the strike situation on the Spanish league?

Explained here from Redcafe:

There's been a row simmering between the LFP (basically the pro clubs) and the RFEF (the Spanish FA) for months. At the heart of it is a row between the two leaders Tebas (LFP) and Villar (RFEF).

It all came spilling out yesterday as the LFP publicly complained about the RFEF, and in particular Villar who they say called their boss, Tebas a "gilipollas" - a dickhead (or something of that ilk).

So how did these adults reach this stage? Well, the government as represented by the minister of sport Cardenal wanted the RFEF to open its books as part of the "transparency" requirement for having received public money (basically a €3m/year subsidy for youth sport, and a top-up from the football pools revenue). The RFEF didn't want to and the government grant has stopped, so now the RFEF say they don't have to open its books to scrutiny.

However La Liga, as another major funds provider with €30m, say they'd also like to see where their money's going.

Villar has previously accused Tebas of collaborating with Mediapro (a TV company) and has now asked FIFA to take action against Tebas and the LFP because they have "invited government intervention" into Spanish football. FIFA has rules about such intervention and can ban FIFA affiliated/regulated bodies who use the government or national courts rather than the UEFA/FIFA/CAS structure to settle grievances.

The government and Cardenal's role in all this is actually vital to Spanish football because it's hoped that they are going to help enforce the new Liga TV rights collective bargaining deal and the new payment structure.

Villar says he's going to call a one-minute suspension of amateur football next week to draw attention to his campaign to get Cardenal sacked :D and that he'll extend action to the pro leagues if he has to.

Basically the lower league getting money from the TV deal comes with strings attached, and the RFEF is rebelling against that. Probably because there's stuff in their books that they can't show others.

The player unions are on strike because they want a bigger share of the pie (premier league players get 1.5% of all TV money while they get nothing). Very messy situation there, seems that everyone is selfish and can't see the big picture.

/r/soccer Thread