Juninho: Brazil`s players could strike

Rio De Janeiro: Former Brazil international midfielder Juninho has raised the prospect of a player strike in protest at Brazil`s congested football calendar.

Juninho said the Bom Senso player movement, created last year to fight for better conditions, has not been shown the respect it deserves from Brazil`s Football Confederation (CBF), a leading agency reported. "At this rate we are going to have a strike," the former Lyon free-kick specialist said during a press conference here Wednesday. "If the CBF doesn`t listen to us, the championship will be stopped," he said. Brazil`s crammed playing schedule has long been criticized by the country`s players. While most European leagues enjoy a three-month off-season, Brazil`s top flight footballers mostly play twice a week for up to 10 months a year. Player discontent has escalated after the 2014 pre-season was further shortened to accommodate the World Cup in June and July.