In protest at the club's continued inability to pay their wages, and with around as much as eighteen million euros owing from as far back as last season, the Levante squad have stepped up their campaign by announcing strike action starting next Saturday ahead of Sunday's final game of the season - against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu after which the champions were to have been presented the Spanish league cup by Spanish Football Federation boss, Ángel María Villar.

Levante player and spokesman, Luis Manuel Rubiales (photo, left), said yesterday at a press conference at the headquarters of the Spanish Footballers Association (AFE) in Madrid, that: "We've been in touch with our colleagues at Real Madrid to let them know our decision. We've also spoken to the coaching staff, and I must say that their reaction has been nothing short of what one would expect from a club of their calibre."

The strike is the latest in a series of media stunts organised to publicise the players' plight. Last Wednesday, against Depor at the Riazor, the Levante players stood still with their arms linked at the kick-off. Depor captain Sergio González drew one of the largest cheers of the night when he ran through the static opposition before firing deliberately wide.

At the start of Levante's final home game of the season against local rivals Valencia, which they went on to lose 1-5, the players posed with a placard demanding 'Justice!'.

Should the strike go ahead, Real Madrid will be awarded a 3-0 victory and Levante will be fined. It will not affect the final league standings, however, as Levante lost their relegation battle some time ago, and Real Madrid are already champions.