Players likely to favour strike action

English football is likely to move closer to its first strike tomorrow when the Professional Footballers' Association announces how many of its 3,496 members support industrial action over the ongoing dispute surrounding television income. The result of the ballot, which closes at midday, will be made public at 2.30pm.

English football is likely to move closer to its first strike tomorrow when the Professional Footballers' Association announces how many of its 3,496 members support industrial action over the ongoing dispute surrounding television income. The result of the ballot, which closes at midday, will be made public at 2.30pm.

It is expected that a large majority of England's professionals will have voted to support the PFA, which is seeking five per cent of the Premier League's television income to help pay for its work assisting needy players. The union has in the past received five per cent, albeit without a formal agreement. Last year the PFA received £8.8m. This year the Premier League made an initial offer of £5.2m, which is less than one per cent of TV revenue and some £20m less than the PFA wants.

The PFA has said that it will ask players to refuse to play when television cameras are present.