ROME -- Italy's Serie A will not start this weekend as scheduled due to a players' strike.

The main issues are clubs want the option to have unwanted players train away from the first team and a new government tax that would impact highly-paid players.

A last-minute proposal to avert the strike could not be reached, meaning this weekend's matches were postponed.

With the weekend of Sept. 3-4 falling on an international break, the delay to the start of the season could push the opening matches until at least Sept. 10-11.

The Champions League group stage starts in mid-September, meaning AC Milan, Inter Milan and Napoli could possibly play in that event before the Serie A season starts.