Sport 09-11-2001 Ballot To Close At Noon As Footballers Near Strike Action who: Professional Footballers` Association (PFA) what: To close ballot over strike action where: LONDON when: Noon today snippet: "English football is set to move a step closer towards strike action today, when the result of a ballot of players is revealed", reports the Guardian this morning as the PFA`s clash with the Premier League over television money comes to a head. As with previous PFA ballots over the last ten years, "more than 90% of their 3,500 members are expected to back industrial action." Of the 3,000 footballers who returned their ballot papers, David Beckham is the newspapers` centre of attention: "I am prepared to do whatever everyone is doing. I know the decision is coming up and we will have to wait and see," he says in the Sun (among others). "I will back what the players are doing. I did vote but it was a private vote." The PFA`s last deal was for 5%, explains BBC Online, "and they are seeking the same figure again - around 25m from the Premier League and 6m each from the Football Association and Football League. The Premier League originally offered between 8m and 9m, but it is understood the latest offer on the table is for 2.5% of `disposable TV income` which would work out at around 10m." Any announcement of strike action would provoke a court injunction from the Premier League, but, if ruled legal, industrial action would probably hit first at Machester United v Arsenal on Novermber 24. [... more]

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