Opening weekend of Liga F set to be suspended due to referee strike

The opening weekend of the Liga F season is set to be postponed due to a proposed strike by referees over working conditions.

The Spanish top flight is set to kick off on Saturday, with the league now under the jurisdiction of the Professional Women's Football League (LPFF) for the first time, and with DAZN acquiring the league's broadcast rights in a five-year deal.

However, the league's match officials announced their intention to strike on Thursday over a number of concerns related to working and employment conditions. The referees will host a press conference on Monday 12 September to explain their reasons for striking.

Liga F has released a statement acknowledging the strike, but informing teams that they will still be expected to show up to the stadiums for their scheduled fixtures. In the event that referees do not show up 'the LPFF will proceed to present the corresponding disciplinary complaints, requesting that punitive measures be adopted corresponding to such a serious breach'.

The statement in full reads:

"The Professional Women’s Football League (LPFF), in response to the statement issued by the CTA announcing an indefinite cessation of the activity of the referees and assistants of the Women’s First Division, wants to report the following:

• All the teams that participate in the Women’s First Division will appear in the matches scheduled for this Saturday, September 10 and Sunday, September 11 at the time established.

• Both the LPFF and the clubs participating in the competition trust that the CTA and the RFEF fulfil their obligations and ensure the presence of the referees and assistants.

• In the event that the referees and those attending the matches do not appear programmed, the LPFF will proceed to present the corresponding disciplinary complaints, requesting that punitive measures be adopted corresponding to such a serious breach.

• The LPFF, together with the participating clubs, will initiate the appropriate actions against the referees and assistants who fail to comply with their obligations to claim the damages that are generated.

"From the LPFF, we want to make public that we are not going to accept any blackmail from any group or institution, thanking you in advance for the shows of support that, mainly from fans and footballers, we are receiving, requesting the CSD to use the necessary legal resources to guarantee the normal development of women’s professional competition.”