The Spanish league season could be extended to mid-June from late May due to a strike called by the professional football league (LFP) for early next month, Spanish media said yesterday.

The LFP announced on February 11 its decision to strike on the weekend of April 2-3 to protest a long-standing rule that one first division match per weekend is broadcast for free on television.

Negotiations followed with political leaders to find a solution, but the LFP reiterated its decision late Tuesday.

“The general assembly of the first division of the LFP was informed of the lack of progress in the negotiations between the league, the government, the Sports Council and parliamentary groups,” the LFP said in a statement.

The LFP, which represents both the first and second divisions, “therefore reiterates its decision adopted during the last general assembly, on February 11, to postpone the matches that are to be played” on the weekend of April 2-3, it said.

The sports newspaper AS said that each match broadcast for free on television, rather on pay-per-view or cable, could be costing the league as much as €800 million.

The LFP decision means the Spanish league season could end on the weekend of June 11-12 instead of May 21-22, Spanish media said.

The “clasico” match between Real Madrid and Barcelona, touted as the ‘final’ of the league, is scheduled for April 16, four days after the two teams contest the final of the Spanish Cup.