Clubs in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 will refuse to play matches for one weekend next month in protest at the French government’s plans for a new “super tax.”

The nation’s Professional Clubs’ Union (UCPF) announced on Thursday that there would be no matches staged on the weekend of November 29-December 2.

“There will be a weekend without games,” said UCPF president Jean-Pierre Louvel.

Under the proposal, companies rather than individuals, will be liable to pay the 75 per cent tax rate for the part of employees’ annual salaries that exceed one million euros.

The issue is to be discussed in parliament. The clubs say the tax will dissuade footballers from playing in France.

“I agree with the determination of the French clubs,” added Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) president Frederic Thiriez in remarks reported by L’Equipe.

The clubs had initially hoped they would be exempt, but sports minister Valerie Fourneyron confirmed last month that that would not be the case.

The LFP said: “This day ‘football in danger, all together!’ is unprecedented in the history of French football, as a first initiative from football to protest against the introduction of exceptional tax on high salaries paid by employees under the draft budget law for 2014.

“This tax is unfair and discriminatory. The economic crisis has not spared the clubs who have had their ticket sales and television rights decrease for three consecutive years.”