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By Carlos Pontes
LISBON, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Estrela Amadora's players will strike at the end of the month if the Portuguese Premier League club does not pay them overdue wages, the head of the country's Professional Footballers' Union (SJPF) said on Friday.
The club's management was unavailable to comment on the decision of the 41-man squad who, if they strike over wages that are three months late, would miss two league games -- against Pacos Ferreira on Nov. 30 and Sporting on Dec 3. "Amadora players unanimously decided to formalise a strike and (will) only call off the action after receiving all wage arrears by the eve of the Pacos Ferreira match," SJPF chief Joaquim Evangelista told reporters. Amadora's players cannot strike immediately because under Portuguese law workers must give five days' notice, which means the squad will travel to play Benfica on Sunday.
The following weekend's game with Porto had already been postponed until Dec. 17. The players are claiming unpaid wages from August, September and October amounting to a total of 426,000 euros ($540,400).
Amadora, who knocked Academica out of the Portuguese Cup on Monday, are sixth in the league, five points behind leaders Leixoes after seven matches.
