THE LA Liga season will start this weekend after the Spanish football league (LFP) and the players union (AFE) sealed a deal over unpaid wages yesterday that ended the first strike action in almost three decades.

Last week’s first round of matches in the top two divisions was postponed as the two sides haggled over issues including the value of a fund to cover unpaid player salaries at clubs who are struggling financially or have gone into administration.

Italylooks almost certain to face a players' strike after talks yesterday failed to produce an agreement between players and the league 48 hours before the scheduled start of the Serie A season.