French football clubs are threatening strike action if the government does not scrap its planned "super tax".

The ruling Socialist Party has proposed a tax rate which would mean that anyone who earns over €1 million per year would be taxed at 75 per cent. It will only be applicable in 2014 and 2015.

If the government's plans becomes law, it is the clubs rather than the players who would be footing the bill.

Clubs in the top two divisions are considering refusing to play matches in protest next weekend.

The Union of Professional Football Clubs will meet on Thursday to decide what action to take.

However an immediate strike does not appear to be on the agenda.

But it does not seem that the French government will be budging on the issue. Sports minister Valerie Fourneyron warned clubs:

"At a time when all French people are making an effort to get our country back on its feet, they would not understand that the whole of professional football does not participate in this collective effort."