Elche players stay away from training in protest against wage cuts ahead of Spanish football return

Elche players were due back at training on Wednesday.
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Ben Hayward13 May 2020

Elche players refused to attend training on Wednesday in a protest at the club's recent wage reductions.

Members of the squad, who play in Spain's second tier, were due back for medical tests at their Martinez Valero stadium on Wednesday morning with training set to resume after the enforced break due to coronavirus.

But the players stayed at home and coach Pacheta informed the club directors of their decision, which has followed weeks of uncertainty and discontent at the measures taken by the club.

When activities were suspended back in March, Elche players offered to take a reduction in the salaries, but their proposal was rejected by directors.

Instead, Elche opted for an ERTE (Temporary Employment Regulation File), which has seen the players' wages reduced by 70 per cent during the period of inactivity.

The club's CEO, Patricia Rodriguez, admitted this week that negotiations were ongoing, but the squad remain unhappy and decided to show their disapproval by boycotting Wednesday's return to training.

Elche, currently sixth in LaLiga Smartbank, will now hope to reach a solution with their players before the competition resumes next month.

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