Premier League club Sheffield: Player strike at traditional club?

Sheffield. The long-established Sheffield Wednesday club, in dire financial straits, is threatening to descend into chaos just days before the start of the English second division season. Due to overdue and delayed wage payments, the football players demanded in an open letter "that this situation be resolved as soon as possible so that decisions like the one not to play at Burnley are avoided in the future." A few days ago, the players refused to play in a friendly against Burnley FC.

Previously, German coach Danny Röhl (36), who had been considered a candidate at RB Leipzig and Hamburger SV last season, had already left the Hillsborough-based club in the middle of preseason. Whether the first game of the season next Sunday against Premier League relegated Leicester City can take place remains questionable.

"The players' decision to withdraw from the scheduled friendly against Burnley was not made lightly or without consideration," the players' letter read. "We are aware of the additional concern this has caused for supporters, but trust that they understand the difficult situation we have found ourselves in."

The players and staff are now feeling real impacts on their professional and personal lives. "We are extremely concerned about the uncertainty surrounding what is happening and when this situation will be resolved." However, they want to "work as hard as possible" in training.

In June, the English Football Association imposed a transfer ban on Sheffield Wednesday for allegedly failing to pay transfer fees and player salaries. Wednesday is prohibited from spending any money on transfers in the next three transfer windows, including the current summer, but the club has lodged an appeal.

RND/dpa