MADRID, Aug 26: The Spanish football season will get under way on Saturday after players and league officials reached a deal to end a strike that postponed the opening round of games in the top two divisions.

An agreement was reached on Thursday after the players’ union and league returned to meet again after talks that started on Wednesday afternoon dragged late into the night, ending at 5:30am.

The Association of Spanish Football Players (AFE) called off the strike after the league guaranteed payment of (euro) 50 million ($72 million) owed to more than 200 players in back wages and also agreed to allow players to be released from their contracts if wages were not paid.

In the latter case, if wages are not paid for three months, players have the right to terminate their contract and sign for another club.—AP