( CNN ) -- Players in the top two tiers of the Spanish league have announced they are to go on strike for the first two weekends of the season . Over 100 players , including Barcelona captain Carles Puyol and Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas , voted for action in a long-running financial dispute with the league ( LFP ) . Spanish champions Barcelona are due to begin the defence of their title at Malaga on August 21 with their nearest challengers , and fierce rivals Real Madrid , hosting Athletic Bilbao . In a statement on their web site the president of the players ' union ( AFE ) Luis Manuel Rubiales confirmed the strike action would go ahead . The disagreement centers on the union 's demand for an increase to the emergency fund that helps protects players ' wages if their clubs experience financial difficulties . The league said in their own statement that they did not understand the strike action as they had recently introduced two `` historic '' changes in relation to the players ' requests . A new financial self-regulation code for clubs has been introduced as well as a guarantee to cover a chunk of wages for players at clubs who go into administration . `` For this reason , the calling of a strike at a moment when fundamental steps forward are being taken is incomprehensible for the LFP , '' they said . At a press conference on Wednesday Rubiales , flanked by Puyol and Casillas , attacked the league . `` It is lamentable . As it stands we are at the bottom of the pile in Europe , '' Rubiales said . `` We do n't want more money we want the clubs to honor the contracts they sign with their players . `` We have put forward proposals which exist in Holland , Germany , France and England which are preventative . In these countries if a club shows it ca n't pay its players the club does n't compete . `` We have asked that players who are owed more than three months ( wages ) can break their contracts . It seemed like we had an agreement but it was left out . '' The LFP continued in their statement : `` The position of the LFP is at all times to advance the negotiations , to continue working and to reach early agreement satisfactory to all . ''
Spanish soccer players vote to strike for the first two weekends of upcoming league season . Real Madrid 's Iker Casillas and Barcelona 's Carles Puyol support action . Dispute centers on a fund to help protect players ' wages at struggling clubs . The Spanish league call the strike action 'incomprehensible '