A few weeks ago, the threat of a strike by footballers in Italy revolved around an issue on which the players had some form of justification – their demands were that players who were left out of the squad by their managers should still have the right to attend training sessions with their colleagues. It made some sense that footballers under contract should still practise with the rest of the team even if the coach does not want to use their services.

But the reason for which now there is a risk that the first day of the Italian league is called off – or that clubs field their Under 21 side – is not justified at all.

The Italian government is in the process of applying what will be known as the solidarity fund, part of a list of austerity measures that will be implemented in an attempt to curb the economic problems the country is facing. Between 5 and 10% of salaries will be devolved to this fund.

Like other taxpayers, footballers are obliged to pay this amount. But as yet they have not accepted to do so, arguing that the clubs should be paying the players’ solidarity fund contributions. The clubs, on their part, are refusing to take on this extra expense and some have already pledged that they will field their Under 21 side if the senior players refuse to comply and go on strike.

It must be pointed out that players in Italy sign up for the “net” value of what they are paid, and the players’ taxes are paid directly by the clubs. The players’ argument is that, since clubs “pay” the footballers’ taxes, then therefore the onus of this solidarity fund falls on the clubs. The latter, however, disagree.

Public opinion is against the players’ arguments. Online surveys show that more than 90% of supporters believe that the players should be paying this solidarity fund, not the clubs. After all, the players earn millions of euros and if taxpayers with a much smaller income will have to give their contribution to this fund, so should football players.

It seems that players have become too greedy. At a time when many are suffering from economic difficulties, they are still leading luxurious lifestyles thanks to their hefty salaries. It has been calculated that the average earnings for players in the top division in Italy are €1.3 million per year.

What the players should realise is that the thousands of enthusiasts who support their salaries by paying to enter stadia, paying to watch football games on television and paying to buy football paraphernalia earn much less than them – and they have to pay their solidarity fund now too.