British soccer league okays strike

MANCHESTER, England, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- The membership of the Professional Footballers' Association -- the union for players in the English Premier League -- voted almost unanimously to strike over television money, the union announced on Friday.

The vote called for players to refuse to take part in televised matches. According to PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor, there were 2,290 votes in favor of the action among the 2,315 returned ballots, representing 98.9 percent of the poll. A total of 2,496 ballots were distributed.

Taylor stated the union is seeking a "fair and equitable" portion of television revenues. The PFA's previous deal with the Premier League gave it five percent of those profits and the union has requested the same portion in the current round of negotiations.

But with a new and richer TV contract, five percent represents $36.43 million. The league has offered no more than $14.57 million so far.

The league and union leaderships are expected to meet Monday. But if an agreement cannot be reached, then the first match that may be affected by industrial action is the clash on November 25 between 1997 Premiership winner Arsenal and three-time defending champion Manchester United. The clubs have finished in the top two spots in the Premier League in each of the last four years.