The new body, Futbolistas Agremiados de Mexico (FAM), created in response to
a call for more accountability from the football federation, has applied for
recognition from the Labour Ministry.
"We want the statutes of the Mexican Football Federation to be subject to
labour law, an unemployment fund to be created and we are calling for legal
and financial accountability," said Jose Maria Huertas, president of the
professional footballers' association (AFP).
Of the 930 players in the first division, only 118 have signed up for the new
body, but that includes 70 percent of the national squad. For the time being
their names are secret.
The last time an attempt was made to set up a union was in 1970 when Carlos
Albert led a strike to defend players' right to have a say in where they
played. Albert was deprived of his licence and the union was disbanded.
