You are most probably aware of the bloodbath occurring in markets worldwide in anticipation of another global slowdown, with developed countries leading the way down into the abyss. I just wanted to point out that Europe's misery is being compounded by those archetypal caviar socialists, football players. Italian players are threatening to strike over becoming "soak the rich" targets, while Spanish ones are threatening industrial action over unpaid wages to those plying their trade in smaller teams. So it's another incipient crisis without the balm of at least being able to watch soccer:
Europe's economy must be in real trouble: the pain is spreading to the continent's soccer teams. In Italy, top players are threatening to strike over the extra "solidarity tax" the government has imposed on high-earners. The players, who generally agree to their wages net of taxes, want the clubs that employ them to foot their higher tax bills. The clubs—including AC Milan, owned by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi—disagree, saying it's up to individuals to meet their tax bills.Ah well, there's always, er, rugby.
Over in Spain, meanwhile, soccer players are also set to strike, this time because around 200 of them have not been paid their wages in full by heavily-indebted clubs. For the ordinary soccer fan, seeking some solace from Europe's economic woes on the field, things look set to get even gloomier.