Serie A players decide to strike

Serie A players will go on strike for the 16th round of games in Italy following a breakdown in negotiations between the Lega Calcio and the players' union, on a new collective bargaining agreement.

Leonardo Gross, vice-president of the players' union said after the meeting: "The strike has been called for 11th and 12the December. We are disappointed [as] we were open to negotiate and to find common ground, but no agreement has been reached."

The disagreement came over players' hopes for a collective contract which formalised their basic rights. Serie A president, Maurizio Beretta, described the meeting as "incredible, without precedence in history."

The effected weekend includes Lazio's trip to Juventus and leaders Milan's game at Bologna. A similar strike was called off in September after an agreement was reached to enter into negotiations.